U.S. flagbearer Michael Phelps leads team into Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony for the Rio Olympics was a demonstration of Brazil’s heritage, highlighted by the country’s proud musical history. Interim President Michel Temer took over following the suspension in May of President Dilma Rousseff on impeachment charges. But the nation’s troubles intruded anyway.

From supermodel Gisele Bundchen’s tribute to the “Girl from Ipanema” to the promise of an athletes’ forest to be planted after the Games, Brazil’s big night saluted the country’s past and pointed towards a greener future.

Let the Games begin – Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima waves after successfully lighting the cauldron. The heavy bill for the games, at least $12 billion, made them unpopular with many. Fuglsang took silver and Majka coasted contentedly across to take bronze.

He retired after London before coming back for these Olympics.

Long accustomed to coming late in the program, the USA team was introduced a little before the midway point in the parade of athletes.

However, legendary footballer Pele, who was widely expected to light the Olympic cauldron, pulled out a few hours before due to ill-health.

Greece, the historical and spiritual home of the games, led the march by athletes into the stadium.

Brazil’s Olympic team in the Parade of Nations.

This Olympics will be feauturing the refugee team for the first time and Kenyan great Kipchoge Keino ws awarded the first Olympic Laurel in honour of his notable contributions.

Swimming legend Michael Phelps said the honor of being the US flag bearer was something that he could not pass up.

The 31st Summer Olympics start for real later on Saturday, not a moment too soon for a city and a country in need of a lift, and an Olympic family desperate to get back to what really matters – the sport.

On behalf of all 11,288 competitors (6,182 men; 5,106 women), Brazilian two-time Olympic champion sailor Robert Scheidt pledged that they won’t take banned drugs – an oath likely to ring false to fans after the scandal of government-orchestrated cheating in Russian Federation.

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

Armenia team participating with 32 athletes was lead by flag bearer swimmer Vahan Mkhitaryan.

Iran’s flagbearer was wheelchair-bound Zahra Nemati, their first ever female flag-carrier who will compete in archery despite being paralysed in both legs.

Loud multiple gun shots were heard earlier by photographers from The Associated Press, forcing games volunteers and others leaving Friday night’ ceremony to duck for cover behind cars. “I believe that the unity is the key to creating a world filled with kindness, gratitude, peace, and love”.

” 18 double the second highest record holder”, Olympic gold medals in individual events (11), and Olympic medals in individual events for a male (13), In winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.