Man shot dead near Maracana after Olympic opening ceremony

After one of the roughest-ever rides from vote to games by an Olympic host, the city of beaches, carnival, grinding poverty and sun-kissed wealth lifted the curtain on the games of the 31st Olympiad with a high-energy gala celebration of Brazil’s can-do spirit, biodiversity and melting pot history. Dancers, all hips and wobble, grooved to thumping funk and sultry samba.

The UOL media outlet reported that former tennis world number one Gustavo Kuerten would be the one to light the Olympic cauldron, as the last of the 12,494 people who have carried the torch since it was lit in April at the birthplace of the ancient games in Olympia, Greece. The cartridges will be taken to Deodoro and form what will be called the Athletes’ Forest. The low side of the event was Brazil’s interim President Michel Temer who declared open the first Games ever in South America was booed by a section of the crowd due to the political scandal engulfing Brazil. “We have always believed in you”, IOC President Thomas Bach said.

Also absent will be Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is undergoing impeachment proceedings. When the seeds sprout, they will be planted in a Rio park.

Michael Phelps will lead the US team, the largest with 549 competitors. Numerous 10,500 athletes from 206 countries who will compete in the Games for 306 gold medals were to join the traditional Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony.

Russia’s team shrunk from 389 to 270 athletes following the government-orchestrated cheating in previous, recent competitions.

While it escaped a blanket ban, Russian Federation is paying the price in the shape of a smaller team, whittled down from a 389 athletes to around 270.

Armenia team participating with 32 athletes was lead by flag bearer swimmer Vahan Mkhitaryan. Another woman pushed Nemati’s wheelchair.

After the grandeur of Beijing’s opening ceremony in 2008 and the high-tech, cheeky inventiveness of London’s in 2012, Rio’s was earthier, less swish and still inventive.

“In the end I feel good that I am not spending money that Brazil hasn’t got”.

Brazil acknowledged its history of slavery in Friday’s opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Police stand near the body of a man that was shot and killed near Maracana Stadium after the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Officials cover the body of a man that was shot and killed near Maracana Stadium after the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.