Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony watched by 3.8 million in the UK!

Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all-time with 22 career medals.

But even the joys of the elite sports competition to come and the opening ceremony extravaganza failed to dispel gloom over Brazil’s parlous political and economic situation, with boos and jeers breaking out as interim president Michel Temer declared South America’s first Olympic Games open.

De Lima is not a gold medalist or a Brazilian champion.

Van der Breggen was greeted first by a light mist and then moments later by compatriot Marianne Vos, who won gold in London, where a puncture near the finish line cost American rider Shelley Olds a spot on the podium.

Despite the resentful undercurrent, and the protests against the Games just hours earlier, spirits were high among the athletes, performers, fans and officials at the 78,000-capacity Maracana. Former tennis star Gustavo Kuerten carried the torch into the stadium.

Argentina’s Olympic team in the Parade of Nations. “Here is our Olympic answer: The 10,000 best athletes in the world, competing with each other, at the same time living peacefully together in one Olympic Village, sharing their meals and their emotions”.

Now that his flag-carrying duties are out of the way, Michael Phelps is eager to get started on his fifth Olympics. The three-hour ceremony included fireworks that spelled “Rio” in the sky and a display of traditional Brazilian music.

That stardust came in the form of supermodel Gisele Bündchen, who strutted through the stadium to huge cheers and to a rendition of “The Girl From Ipanema” by Daniel Jobim, the grandson of the song’s composer, Antonio Carlos Jobim.

He was found outside the gates of the Rio State University on Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, not far from the stadium where approximately 75,000 people watched Brazil put on its biggest ever show.

Many people pointed out Brazil was able to acknowledge slavery, while the United States has yet to do so at an Olympic ceremony. Lea has blazed her own path in the fashion industry, working with everyone from Givenchy to Redken.

The country indeed made a statement last night. “Brazil is a vast country and all its diversity should be somehow represented in this event”, the model told TeleSUR.

Buzzfeed reported it the thirstiest: Tonga’s flagbearer, Pita Taufatofua, got the crowd (and social media) all excited when he stepped out completely shirtless, oiled up, and in a skirt.

Inside the stadium, others showed their anger through the thousands of seats left unsold as the Opening Ceremony began. Here are some snapshots from the awesome event.

The German, who took over the IOC in 2013 and is overseeing his first summer Games as president, also said the atmosphere at the Olympic Park in Barra de Tijuca was improving after teething problems in the first few days.