Olympics 2016 opens with a glittering ceremony in Brazil
BRAZIL: unfurled a vast canvas celebrating its rainforest and the creative energy of its wildly diverse population to the tune of samba, bossa nova and funk in welcoming the world on Friday to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In a country of great economic inequality, the opening ceremony celebrated the culture of the favelas, the slums that hang vertiginously above the renowned beaches of Rio and ring the site of Friday`s spectacle, the famed Maracana stadium.
There was no glossing over history either: from the arrival of the Portuguese and their conquest of the indigenous populations to the use of African slave labour for 400 years. The clash of cultures, as the ceremony showed, is what makes Brazil the complex mosaic that it is.
Home to the Amazon, the world`s largest forest, Brazil used the ceremony to call on the 3 billion people watching the opening of the world`s premiere sporting event to take care of the planet, plant seeds and reconquer the verdant land that Europeans found here five centuries ago.
The ceremony witnessed the hosts unfurl a vision of its vast rainforest and the creative energy of its diverse population.”The Summer Olympics 2016 got off to a perfect beginning as the iconic Maracana Stadium echeod with a rich blend of Brazilian styles, histories and artists in a glittering opening ceremony.
With the theme of world peace and enviornment, the programme retraced the history of Brazil – the arrival of the Portugese, the African influence on its culture, the immigration of Arab and Japanese communities and the rise of great cities. Almost 1,500 artists performed in a colorful musical show which gave a glimpse of Brazil.
The parade of nations, then, followed. Keeping with the Olympic traditions, Greece entered the stadium first as it was the birthplace of the Games.Brazil, being the hosts, were the last to enter. India, which has fielded its biggest ever contingent, was led by flag-bearer and Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra.
Leander Paes and Jwala Gutta were among the Indian stars. Delivering a message for planet earth, the athletes were given seedlings to plant. The seeds, representing each of the delegations that will participate in the games, will be planted and turned into a small Olympic forest in Rio.
Before the ceremony, a world and Olympic record was set by South Korea in Archery Friday night.In the Men’s Individual rankings round, Kim Woo-jin scored 700 in the 72-arrow ranking round to set a new record. India’s Atanu Das was 5th with 683 points. He advanced to Round-of-64.
In the Women’s section, Deepika Kumari ended at the 20th spot, Bombayla Devi on 24th and Laxmirani at 43rd. They have also advanced to Round-of-64.In the Women’s Team rankings, the trio of Deepika, Bombayla and Laxmirani finished 7th and qualified for Round-of-16.
