Olympics opening ceremony shows Brazilian flair
The 2016 Summer Olympics have officially opened in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The ceremony showcased the country's energy with star-studded performances, fireworks and a handful of surprises.
A first for South America
Brazil's interim President Michel Temer on Friday opened the 2016 Olympic Games in South America, marking the first ever international competition on the continent. While a political crisis has taken the country by storm, dancers and performers welcomed athletes and spectators from across the globe in stunning Brazilian fashion.
The icons
The ceremony witnessed Daniel Jobim, the grandson of Brazilian composer Tom Jobim, perform the iconic "Girl from Ipanema." Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen walked on the Maracana Stadium's walkway, portraying the young woman spoken about in the song.
'Message of hope'
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach hailed the Refugee Olympic team as they entered the stadium, marking another first for the international sports competition. "You are sending a message of hope to all the many millions of refugees around the globe. You had to flee from your homes because of violence, hunger or just because you were different."
Germany takes stage
German professional table tennis player Timo Boll carried the flag for his country after being chosen with more than 300,000 votes. Germany's favorites for the gold include the women's national football team and men's handball team. The country's teams hope to top the 44 medals they gained during the London games in 2012.
A golden story
Olympic bronze-medalist Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima astonished spectators when he carried the torch to light the cauldron. The marathoner, who made a surprising performance in the 2004 games, was tackled by an Irish spectator in a kilt who sought to bring attention to his apocalyptic vision. The spectator's actions effectively robbed de Lima of the gold medal in Athens.
Russia's arrival
Professional volleyball player Sergei Tutyukhin led Russia's delegation of athletes in the opening ceremony. Several Russian athletes have been tarnished by a World Anti-Doping Agency report that exposed state-sponsored doping programs. Authorities upheld a ban on weightlifters and rowers. However, 271 athletes were cleared for the international competition after proving they had not been doping.
'Best place in the world'
With more than 10,000 athletes from 207 teams, the four-hour ceremony officially marked the beginning of the world's largest sports competition, drawing from a mosaic of local traditions and its complex history. "The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality. The best place in the world is here and now," said organizing committee chief Carlos Nuzman.