Saturday, August 6, 2016

Rio 2016 : Photos from Rio Olympics opening ceremony

Rio's Olympic Games have officially begun after Friday's Opening Ceremony - a celebration of Brazilian culture featuring Gisele, carnival-style dancing and an elaborate light display. See photos after the cut


The 80,000-seater Marcana Stadium was less than two thirds full when the lights went down.  A Brazilian presenter told the audience: 'We are 60,000 people soon to be joined by three billion' on TV. Twenty minutes before the world tuned in, many of the seats of the 'sold out' show remained empty. 

Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, who was famously attacked during a 2004 marathon by a spectator,  lights the Olympic flame to bring the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to an end
 
Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, who was famously attacked during a 2004 marathon by a spectator,  lights the Olympic flame to bring the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to an end

Soccer star Pele was due to light the cauldron as the climax of the show but had to pull due to poor health
The Brazilian marathon runner, de Lima, carries the Olympic flame up the stairs towards the cauldron during the opening ceremony
Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima holds up the Olympic flame to the crowd of tens of thousands before lighting the cauldron

Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima holds up the Olympic flame to the crowd of tens of thousands before lighting the cauldron

Brazilian tennis player Gustavo Kuerten brought the flame into the stadium and passed it to 1996 Olympic women¿s basketball silver medalist Hortência Marcari who gave it to de Lima.Brazilian tennis player Gustavo Kuerten brought the flame into the stadium and passed it to 1996 Olympic women¿s basketball silver medalist Hortência Marcari who gave it to de Lima.
Brazilian tennis player Gustavo Kuerten (left)  brought the flame into the stadium and passed it to 1996 Olympic women’s basketball silver medalist Hortência Marcari (right) who gave it to de Lima.

Kipchoge Keino, hairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, lifts the Olympic Laurel Trophy at the end of the Opening Ceremony
Kipchoge Keino, hairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, lifts the Olympic Laurel Trophy at the end of the Opening Ceremony

Fireworks explode at the culmination of the opening ceremony on Friday night - officially kicking off the Games
The Rio Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, at Maracana Stadium, came to a close with a spectacular fireworks display
Fireworks explode over the Maracana stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
Olympic rings are formed with sprouting seed boxes during the ceremony - another nod to this year's focus on climate change
Soldiers hoist the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, August 5, 2016
Samba school dancers show off their moves during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
The dancers donned elaborate and colorful costumes for their performance at the end of the night
The skimpy outfits, which resemble those worn at Rio's Carnival, were worn by dancers in the final display of the night
Samba schools's most talented performers danced during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Members of a Samba school enter the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana Stadium
Scores of dancers and drummers from various Samba Schools joined the stage in a rainbow of different colors 
Dancers in bright pink and blue costumes showed off their skills during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Confetti falls from the ceiling onto the dancers down below at the end of the ceremony
Drummers in green makeup and costumes joined in with the festivities during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A woman, wearing a giant lilac dress waves the flag of her samba school at the event 
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dancers pose for pictures as athletes snap photos of them during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A huge procession of samba dancers walk into the stadium for the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium 
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium
The cauldron bearing the Flame burns during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro 
The cauldron is mounted on a giant sun sculpture bearing which moves with the lit flame
Fireworks explode over the Olympic cauldron with the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremony
The Olympic Cauldron is lit at the Olympic Boulevard for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games on August 5
Brazil interim President Michel Temer, whose presence has sparked furious protests, gave an address at the Opening Ceremony

Brazil interim President Michel Temer, whose presence has sparked furious protests, gave an address at the Opening Ceremony

The Olympic flag was carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 
 
 
The Olympic flag was carried onto the stage in the stadium and raised by members of the military
Michael Phelps carried the flag of the United States during the Olympic Opening Ceremony 2016 which kicked off in Rio on Friday night

Michael Phelps carried the flag of the United States during the Olympic Opening Ceremony 2016 which kicked off in Rio on Friday night


Team United States arrives during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
 Phelps, a 22-time Olympic medal winning swimmer, waved the flag during the welcoming of the athletes
The team, wearing the red, white and blue of their flag, marched into the stadium during the ceremony
Tennis star Andy Murray leads out Team GB during the Rio Olympic Games 2016, waving the British flag
Caroline Wozniacki carries the flag of Denmark during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, FridayCaroline Wozniacki carries the flag of Denmark during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday
Caroline Wozniacki carries the flag of Denmark during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday
Pita Nikolas Aufatofua carried the flag of Tonga during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Taufatofua's muscular oiled chest sparked a flurry of interest on social media as fans swooned over the Tonga athlete
The very excitable members of the Brazil team take part during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016
The Brazilian athletes, wearing navy blazers and straw boaters, were led through the stadium by flag bearer, pentathlete Yane Marques
Athletes are introduced during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday
Teams of athletes from across the world enter the stadium as part of the welcoming of the athletes during the ceremony
The model, who is Brazilian, flew back to her home country to appear at the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

The model, who is Brazilian, flew back to her home country to appear at the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen (C) celebrated during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Team Cameroon marches in the arena during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 


Australian flag bearer Anna Meares leading the precession of Australian athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
The stadium became a forest floor and people of the native tribes of Brazil, in traditional dress, performed a choreographed dance with the fibre optic lights to recreate tribal art.
Lit in green, the dancers represented the hundreds of tribes that popular the Amazon rainforest in Brazil
The Olympic Opening Ceremony 2016 kicked off in Rio on Friday night with a stunning celebration of Brazilian culture
A moving dance with performers acting out a represention of the African slaves brought over to Brazil
The dancers are just a few of the 500 performers at the Opening Ceremony on Friday night for the Rio Olympics - the first time the Olympics has been held in a South American country
An elaborate set reveals the densely populated areas around Brazil as dancers climbed up and down ladders
The ceremony also celebrated the diverse mix of cultures that make up Brazil today - including Japanese immigrants
The melting pot has led to what they describe as a 'patchwork country' which is represented here 
The Olympic Opening Ceremony 2016 kicked off in Rio on Friday night with a stunning celebration of Brazilian culture Rio 2016 : Photos from Rio Olympics opening ceremony
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