{"id":7741,"date":"2016-08-05T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2016\/08\/05\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics\/"},"modified":"2016-08-05T23:01:00","modified_gmt":"2016-08-05T23:01:00","slug":"rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio Throws A Party For The World, Kicking Off The 2016 Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-style:italic;font-size:16px\">By  <a class=\"colorbox\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports\">Bill Chappell<\/a><\/span>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"ftpimagefix\" style=\"float:left\"><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586229104-copy-625e1f8afe4400a3d38fd80cf3f9d036b895211e-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Judi Dench reads a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life while a young man is captivated by a plant onstage. \" alt=\"Judi Dench reads a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life while a young man is captivated by a plant onstage. \"><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Judi Dench reads a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life while a young man is captivated by a plant onstage.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586318242-444400913b8347dd8bc47b3a0531e59c2690ad4e-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"A tiny forest of green trees explodes upward into confetti. \" alt=\"A tiny forest of green trees explodes upward into confetti. \"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>A tiny forest of green trees explodes upward into confetti.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Patrick Smith\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586223518-89b18d29488049c7bdd44e06fb2569e4f0d7464e-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Athletes walk into the stadium during the Parade of Nations.\" alt=\"Athletes walk into the stadium during the Parade of Nations.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Athletes walk into the stadium during the Parade of Nations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>David Rogers\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220804-89746d60eecd6b46bb2ab2325d8f45454f10b2b4-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"The Opening Ceremony's directors this week, worked with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.\" alt=\"The Opening Ceremony's directors this week, worked with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>The Opening Ceremony&#8217;s directors this week, worked with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Luis Acosta\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220054_slide-5e1baa0087b41698bc8787faf80e87e400a80dff-s800-c15.jpg\" title='\"I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,\" film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.' alt='\"I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,\" film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.'><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>&#8220;I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,&#8221; film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Clive Mason\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220100_slide-3268e8779572a432583b150dec59a715385c7bdf-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Performers dance during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.\" alt=\"Performers dance during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Performers dance during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Christian Petersen\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220784-619d91945d92518ef07778aa5f393b80901ad994-s800-c15.jpg\" title='Dancer-puppeteers \"walk\" a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.' alt='Dancer-puppeteers \"walk\" a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.'><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Dancer-puppeteers &#8220;walk&#8221; a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Lars Baron\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586221530-71e43f822381b036d686bc33688258731e5b68bb-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Parkour acrobats pounce around on blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene resembling buildings and homes on a mountainside and draw cheers from the crowd during the Metropolis segment.\" alt=\"Parkour acrobats pounce around on blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene resembling buildings and homes on a mountainside and draw cheers from the crowd during the Metropolis segment.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Parkour acrobats pounce around on blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene resembling buildings and homes on a mountainside and draw cheers from the crowd during the Metropolis segment.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Ross Kinnaird\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220900-38255442e505ec9a41093e220c27e2eecc7e3957-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.\" alt=\"Dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Thomas Coex\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586224256-482044c4ebcbbdc9a854a1fc55fdcc83c69434ca-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Acrobats simulate the arrival of Europeans in ships, three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people. \" alt=\"Acrobats simulate the arrival of Europeans in ships, three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people. \"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Acrobats simulate the arrival of Europeans in ships, three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Gabriel Bouys\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586221648-3475e0ff7bcf69ea81cea3ba7da514e399b65a97-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony.\" alt=\"Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586228904-4920ff4585d9ad6cfe4e5e40f9f3d827822fdd41-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"A wright-brothers style aircraft forms part of the opening ceremony flown by a gentleman in old-fashioned clothes. \" alt=\"A wright-brothers style aircraft forms part of the opening ceremony flown by a gentleman in old-fashioned clothes. \"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>A wright-brothers style aircraft forms part of the opening ceremony flown by a gentleman in old-fashioned clothes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Fabrice Coffrini\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586225032-a0ea3d8bb183c5fb56af4b582ae5da6124781cf6-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony.\" alt=\"Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<p><span>1<\/span> of <span>13<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\" title=\"Full-screen\">View slideshow<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\" title=\"Caption\">i<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rio is welcoming the world to the Summer Olympics \u2014 and after months of negative news and setbacks, organizers for these games on Friday finally got to do what the city&#8217;s famous for: Throw a party, in the form of an hours-long Opening Ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are headlining a show that&#8217;s heavy on samba drums and dancing, highlighting Brazil&#8217;s history and heritage. And the Parade of Nations kicked off with 207 delegations following their flag-bearers into Rio&#8217;s venerable Maracana Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>In keeping with the Opening Ceremony&#8217;s pro-environmental message, athletes are carrying tree seeds into the arena, which they then deposit in a wall of small planter cartridges when they reach their designation spot on the stage. If all goes to plan, the seeds will later make up the Athletes&#8217; Forest in the &#8220;Radical Park&#8221; \u2013 site of BMX, mountain-biking, and whitewater \u2014 in Deodoro.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re live-blogging the Opening Ceremony here, which started at 8 p.m. local time in Brazil (which is one hour ahead of Eastern Time). Because of NBC&#8217;s decision to broadcast the show on a time-delay, our readers on the East Coast in the U.S. won&#8217;t see what we&#8217;re seeing here in Rio until an hour later. The delay will be even longer for audiences across the country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:57 p.m. BRT: A Kinetic Sculpture Fans The Olympic Flame<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586320640_custom-a07c1da6c34ab9beb3bb0f2d553a5e2564480753-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"A gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It's the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash.\" alt=\"A gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It's the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It&#8217;s the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash. <strong>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>With the Olympic flame lit, a gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It&#8217;s the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:50 p.m. BRT: Kuerten Enters The Arena; De Lima Lights Flame<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Former world No. 1 tennis player Gustavo Kuerten is clearly emotional as he brings the Olympic flame into the stadium. He then hands off to Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Hortencia Marcari \u2014 and then the torch goes to Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, the beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">De Lima was attacked in Athens marathon, lost chance for gold, still danced &amp;blew kisses in last stretch. Video: <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pai5WYkd7o\">https:\/\/t.co\/pai5WYkd7o<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRmelissablock\/status\/761757524752228352\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Famously, de Lima had been leading that Olympic race \u2014 but he was accosted by a spectator, causing him to finish third. His spirits weren&#8217;t dampened \u2014 he blew kisses and waved to the crowd as he ran to the finish line, sometimes holding his arms out as if he were soaring above it all.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586320832_custom-6483548704db2568705ffa3bb2d0b600b6bef03b-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, lights the Olympic cauldron.\" alt=\"Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, lights the Olympic cauldron.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, lights the Olympic cauldron. <strong>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>11:43 p.m. BRT: Back To The Samba<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a rasher of speeches, we were brought back to life with Gilberto Gil performing, and Anitta singing &#8220;Sand\u00e1lia de Prata&#8221; (Silvered Sandal), by Ary Barroso.<\/p>\n<p>This section of the program was started with drummer Wilson das Neves playing a rhythm on a little matchbox as a talented dancer whom the program identifies only as &#8220;an 8-year-old boy&#8221; performs.<\/p>\n<p>Caetano Veloso then takes the stage, after an entrance by drummers from the 12 Baterias of the Samba Schools. Veloso then sings \u2014 and the drumming hits a new peak.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:31 p.m. BRT: Olympic Flag Is Delivered<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Six accomplished athletes carry the flag into the arena. They are:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Marta Vieira (Football), Ellen Gracie (First woman appointed to the Supreme Court in Brazil), Sandra Pires Tavares (Beach volleyball), Oscar Schmidt (Basketball), Joaquim Cruz (Athletics), Rosa Celia Pimentel (Cardiologist and founder of the Pr\u00f3-Crian\u00e7a hospital), Torben Grael (Sailing), Emanuel Rego (Beach volleyball).&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s followed by the Olympic anthem.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:26 p.m. BRT: Brazil&#8217;s Acting Leader Speaks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In a short speech that saw his voice competing with jeers by the end, Brazil&#8217;s Acting President Michel Temer has declared Rio&#8217;s Summer Games to be open. We&#8217;ll note that Temer did not appear earlier in the program, as had been anticipated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:22 p.m. BRT: Doves, And A New Award<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a brief video about his life, Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, runs onto the stage along with a group of children who are carrying small dove kites. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586318280_custom-146f4da273afb7219878db190d3165502fecfaef-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"A group of children run onto the stage carrying small dove kites with Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award.\" alt=\"A group of children run onto the stage carrying small dove kites with Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A group of children run onto the stage carrying small dove kites with Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award. <strong>Lars Baron\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Lars Baron\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The organizers explain about the kites: &#8220;As they are an integral part of Rio&#8217;s landscapes, kites were chosen to represent our dove of peace. 200 kites were taken from Rio de Janeiro to Kenya and given to children who had never played with kites before. Needless to say, they loved them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:15 p.m. BRT: Thomas Bach, Head Of The IOC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, speaks about the Olympic movement and the importance of equality. He drew the largest cheer of his speech by mentioning the refugee team.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:03 p.m. BRT: Rio 2016 President Speaks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We welcome you in Rio, the Olympic city,&#8221; says Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Committee. He was announced along with Thomas Bach.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Brazil opens the world with open arms,&#8221; Nuzman says.<\/p>\n<p>He adds, &#8220;I&#8217;m the proudest man alive&#8221; \u2014 and he repeats it, drawing a loud cheer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These are your games,&#8221; Nuzman says, &#8220;the first in South America.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nuzman, we&#8217;ll add, is speaking in both English and Portuguese.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of his speech \u2014 around 7 minutes after he began \u2014 Nuzman introduced Bach and caused a lighter moment with a short-lived flub, calling Bach a man &#8220;who always believed in the sex \u2014 success \u2014 of the Olympic movement.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:58 p.m. BRT: That&#8217;s The Athletes; Now It&#8217;s Tree (Ring) Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brazil version of the <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/olympic?src=hash\">#olympic<\/a> rings <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hn4VjXRlxA\">pic.twitter.com\/hn4VjXRlxA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lulu Garcia-Navarro (@lourdesgnavarro) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lourdesgnavarro\/status\/761746808469065728\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mirrored boxes housing the tree seeds the international athletes had gathered were assembled into the Olympic rings \u2014 which were then opened to show a tiny forest of green trees, which <em>then<\/em> exploded upward into confetti. Fireworks followed, again evoking the famous rings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:52 p.m. BRT: The Party Is On<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brazil&#8217;s team is out on the floor, and the crowd is loving it, in more ways than one: Even those who might be cheering for other nations are ecstatic to hear music that&#8217;s different from the medley of pop hits that had become a bit monotonous.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586318028_custom-88597cec7dc5586e2427245549d3c4308bdfa7a9-s1100-c15.jpg\" title='A member of the Brazil delegation waves a flag. The athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song \"Aquarela do Brasil\" \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as \"Brazil\" \u2014 plays.' alt='A member of the Brazil delegation waves a flag. The athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song \"Aquarela do Brasil\" \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as \"Brazil\" \u2014 plays.'><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A member of the Brazil delegation waves a flag. The athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song &#8220;Aquarela do Brasil&#8221; \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as &#8220;Brazil&#8221; \u2014 plays. <strong>Leon Neal\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Leon Neal\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>That&#8217;s a memory now. All is forgiven. Dressed in blue blazers, the athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song &#8220;Aquarela do Brasil&#8221; \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as &#8220;Brazil&#8221; \u2014 plays. The crowd treats it like an anthem, which of course, it is.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:45 p.m. BRT: The Refugee Team<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Neither last nor least, the Olympic Team of Refugees emerges to huge cheers, some of the loudest of the night. The UN&#8217;s Ban Ki-Moon and the IOC&#8217;s Thomas Bach stand and applaud.<\/p>\n<p>As the refugees cross into the arena, a chant of Bra-sil! Bra-sil! breaks out. The home team is next.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:45 p.m. BRT: Glad To Be Here: Uganda And Uruguay<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The long wait to emerge was not enough to lull these delegations to sleep. They&#8217;re hitting the floor like they&#8217;ve been waiting to get into a special club \u2014 which, in many senses, they have.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:35 p.m. BRT: The Cauldron, And Its Igniter<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When the cauldron is finally lit, don&#8217;t expect a blaze: Organizers say it will be a &#8220;hybrid cauldron&#8221; that is &#8220;intentionally small and low emission.&#8221; As for who will light it \u2014 that&#8217;s a mystery.<\/p>\n<p>Early reports had suggested Pele \u2014 but after the soccer star said his health would keep him from the honor, local media now say it might be Gustavo Kuerten, the curly-haired tennis player who won three French Open titles from 1997 to 2001 and won fans with his bright personality \u2014 and his bright on-court clothes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:25 BRT: American Samoa Breaks Out A Move<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the American Samoa delegation enters the arena, the motion stops for a brief moment \u2014 one of its members is showing off some dance moves. That came after he lay on the ground, where a woman put a foot on his back. Oddly enough, it seems normal in this colorful parade, into which we&#8217;re now an hour and a half.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Iranian flag-bearer Zahra Nemati is in a wheelchair: she took up archery after she was paralyzed in a car accident. <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Olympics?src=hash\">#Olympics<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash\">#Rio2016<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRmelissablock\/status\/761726660064452608\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>10:20 BRT: Huge Roar For Portugal<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A loud roar of approval greeted Portugal as that nation&#8217;s delegation entered Maracana Stadium.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:15 p.m. BRT: U.N. Chief Calls For Peace<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>These games are taking place in a time of unprecedented concern over international terrorism \u2014 and during the ceremony, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon released a video calling for a global truce during the Olympics.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ban Ki-moon calls for global truce during <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OlympicGames?src=hash\">#OlympicGames<\/a>,<\/p>\n<p>Here is the video shown at the <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash\">#Rio2016<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a>.<a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0yD7bFLNdm\">https:\/\/t.co\/0yD7bFLNdm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 United Nations (@UN) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UN\/status\/761731246326034433\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>9:34 p.m. BRT: Team USA Enters Maracana<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Led by flag-bearer Michael Phelps, the 555-athlete U.S. delegation enters Maracana Stadium, wearing blue blazers and striped shirts. The contingent, the largest of any country at the games, seemed to stretch from one side of the large stage to the other.<\/p>\n<p>The American athletes enter right after Micronesia \u2014 the &#8220;Estados Federados da Micron\u00e9sia,&#8221; in the host country&#8217;s Portuguese \u2014 and Spain \u2014 &#8220;Espanha.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>9:15 p.m. BRT: Don&#8217;t Get Mixed Up: Some Alphabetical Guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan came out right after Qatar \u2014 in Portuguese, that&#8217;s &#8220;Cazaquist\u00e3o&#8221; following &#8220;Catar.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Chile followed soon after, getting a loud roar from the crowd.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kiribati has a tiny, tiny Olympic contingent. But gosh are they having fun as they enter the Rio Olympic <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Russell Lewis (@NPRrussell) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRrussell\/status\/761727945568292864\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>9:09 p.m. BRT: Burkina Faso<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We like what Burkina Faso wore tonight. With only five athletes in Rio, they may win the cool-per-capita contest. We are not surprised.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:59 p.m. BRT: Independent Athletes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As usual at the Olympics, there are loud cheers for the independent athletes \u2014 there are nine at these games.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:56 p.m. BRT: &#8216;Arabia Saudita&#8217; Is In The House<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll remind you, all the countries are first announced in Portuguese. Saudi Arabia now enters the stadium, including their four female athletes. All told, they have nine.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after their arrival, loud cheers (and some other less friendly sounds) greeted the Argentine delegation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:50 p.m. BRT: Here Come The Athletes (!)<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Best dance moves of a flag bearer goes to: Belize! Brandon Jones, you are awesome. <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash\">#Rio2016<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NPRRio?src=hash\">#NPRRio<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRmelissablock\/status\/761715161535246336\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>The stage has been cleared, and it seems the athletes will come out now \u2014 and here they are, led by a tricked-out, florescent three-wheeled bicycle (if that makes sense) ridden by a smiling man.<\/p>\n<p>As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece. Because they started the whole thing.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-5862228381_custom-189dd8405f83b96d9d2d1f0d87e60dd848154ab6-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"Athletes come out led by a tricked-out florescent three-wheeled bicycle. As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece.\" alt=\"Athletes come out led by a tricked-out florescent three-wheeled bicycle. As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Athletes come out led by a tricked-out florescent three-wheeled bicycle. As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece. <strong>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>8:48 p.m. BRT: A Plant Sprouts On Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We hear the voice of Judi Dench reading a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life. Her words are repeated in Portuguese as we see photos of people planting trees and other plants.<\/p>\n<p>Dench and Brazilian actress Fernanda Montenegrois are reading a poem: &#8220;A Flor e a N\u00e1usea&#8221; by Carlos Drumond de Andrade.<\/p>\n<p>Then we see a young man who had been captivated by the plant pick it up and walk it across the stage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:44 p.m. BRT: Climate Change<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now the visuals \u2014 and speech \u2014 is devoted to talking about the Earth&#8217;s changing temperatures and the melting of huge ice deposits.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:38 p.m. BRT: Pop, Youth, And The Favela<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The music now pumps up into the sounds of young talents in Brazil, and the colors explode on the stage as dancers get moving again.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re hearing Ludmilla, 21, singing &#8220;Rap da Felicidade&#8221; (Happiness Rap), which organizers call &#8220;an anthem of the carioca [Rio native] favelas.&#8221; There&#8217;s also dancing by Christian Do Passinho, 13.<\/p>\n<p>Then (we have to admit) we&#8217;ve lost our place a bit, because this is a spectacle.<\/p>\n<p>Catching up: Elza Soares sang &#8220;Canto de Ossanha&#8221; by Baden Powel and Vinicius de Moraes, and Zeca Pagodinho and Marcelo D2 also sang.<\/p>\n<p>We also glimpsed MC Soffia, 12 \u2014 in magenta braids \u2014 and rapper Karol Conka, in a segment devoted to empowerment.<\/p>\n<p>And in a moving portion of the program, Jorge Ben played guitar as Regina Cas\u00e9 led the audience in dancing to the sound of &#8220;Pa\u00eds Tropical.&#8221; Dancers filled the stage.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586226800_custom-443b1fa069d7f924cd4346350fb4dbadf000320e-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"The music pumps and the colors explode on the stage as dancers move.\" alt=\"The music pumps and the colors explode on the stage as dancers move.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>The music pumps and the colors explode on the stage as dancers move. <strong>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#8216;Here is to diversity&#8217; shouts presenter Regina Case <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a> then full on party in the arena. Joy!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lulu Garcia-Navarro (@lourdesgnavarro) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lourdesgnavarro\/status\/761708744959025154\">August 5, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>8:30 p.m. BRT: Building An Airplane \u2013 And Flying Away<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An urban scene culminates in acrobats passing white blocks around to an area of the stage, which are then seemingly assembled into an airplane.<\/p>\n<p>And in a nice bit of magic, that ends in a gent in old-fashioned clothes firing up the engine on a Wright Brothers-style plane.<\/p>\n<p>All seems a bit confusing as the guy just keeps on flying. But then all seems OK \u2014 because now we see Tom Jobim, and we see his grandson Daniel Jobim at the piano, playing Jobim&#8217;s classic &#8220;Girl from Ipanema.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The audience sings \u2014 and out walks Gisele Bundchen, wearing a silver dress that looks to our discerning eye like it was designed by Alexandre Herchcovitch.<\/p>\n<p>The audience just keeps singing, as Bundchen walks toward an image of a smiling Tom Jobim projected on a building. And it&#8217;s a nice moment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:25 p.m. BRT: Building Blocks Of Modern Brazil<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The geometric shapes now have right angles, and we&#8217;re seeing blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene.<\/p>\n<p>It all culminates in the impressive sight of buildings and homes on a mountainside, drawing cheers from the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Parkour acrobats then pounce around on the scene, dressed in what looks to be fuschia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:20 p.m. BRT:<\/strong> <strong>Machines And Slavery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Groups symbolizing the Africans who were brought to Brazil by force arrive.<\/p>\n<p>As the official guide tells us, &#8220;Their trails show graphic patterns, reminding us that African culture is at the basis of everything we call &#8216;Brazilian.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And as NPR&#8217;s Melissa Block has reported:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s estimated 4 million enslaved Africans were brought to Brazil. That&#8217;s more than any country in the Americas; some 10 times the number of slaves brought to the United States. And Brazil didn&#8217;t abolish slavery until 1888. It was the last country in the Americas to do so.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>They&#8217;re followed by two other groups, representing immigration from the Middle East and Asia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:15 p.m. BRT: Europeans Arrive In Ships<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Acrobats simulate the arrival of three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:14 p.m. BRT: Green Forest, And Its Intricate Web Of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From the beginning of life we move into a sea of green, evoking the massive forests of ancient Brazil.<\/p>\n<p>In a (very) cool effect, dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:10 p.m. BRT: The Waves \u2014 And Some Lightning<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The stage floor is now transformed into the wash of an ocean&#8217;s waves breaking on the beach. Groups of white-clad dancer-puppeteers then &#8220;walk&#8221; a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.<\/p>\n<p>This is, the official guide tells us, a &#8220;recreation of the beginning of life,&#8221; with microorganisms in a piece by the video artist Susi Sie.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:07 p.m. BRT: Brazil&#8217;s National Anthem<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After an introduction by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, legendary (get used to that word) musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-5862208501_custom-6eb69174c55ebca591a2edfbed537f67fc41a514-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"Musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra.\" alt=\"Musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra. <strong>David Rogers\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>David Rogers\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some sample lyrics:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Eternally lying in a splendid cradle,<br \/>\nBy the sound of the sea and the light of the deep sky,<br \/>\nThou shinest, O Brazil, garland of America,<br \/>\nIlluminated by the sun of the New World!<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thy smiling, lovely fields have more flowers<br \/>\nThan the most elegant land abroad,<br \/>\nOur woods have more life,<br \/>\nOur life in thy bosom more love.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;O beloved,<br \/>\nIdolized homeland,<br \/>\nHail, hail!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In what seems to be a break with the plan, Brazil&#8217;s interim President Michel Temer was not introduced, as NPR&#8217;s Lulu Garcia-Navarro tells us. We&#8217;re expecting to see Temer later.<\/p>\n<p>The shape of the stage was inspired by Burle Marx, the famed master landscape designer and artist who in 1970 completed Copacabana Beach&#8217;s trademark wavy pavement designs, and whose estate on the western outskirts of Rio is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:05 p.m. BRT: Countdown And Then \u2014 Fireworks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Next up: An opening segment on three themes, from the &#8220;gambiarra&#8221; \u2013organizers call it &#8220;the Brazilian talent for making something great out of almost nothing.&#8221; That idea was also cited by the Opening Ceremony&#8217;s directors this week, as they discussed &#8220;MacGyvering&#8221; \u2014 working with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>Dancers in the center of the space performed a countdown that was chanted by the audience. At the end, fireworks erupted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8 p.m. BRT: And We&#8217;re Off!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the live show begins, we watch a video that features beautiful aerial shots of the host city. We&#8217;re hearing bossa nova (&#8220;new wave&#8221;) music \u2014 &#8220;Aquele Abra\u00e7o&#8221; by Gilberto Gil, sung by Luiz Melodia. We&#8217;re watching waves roll in on the beach.<\/p>\n<p><em>Our original post continues:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The American team will be led into the arena by Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 22 medals, 18 of them gold. At age 31, he still holds seven world records.<\/p>\n<p>More than 11,400 athletes will take part in these games. They&#8217;ll enter the stadium in the order of their delegation&#8217;s name in Portuguese \u2014 which means Team USA, with 555 athletes, will enter the stadium as <em>Estados Unidos<\/em>, placing the Americans toward the front half of the parade.<\/p>\n<p>As is traditional with the Opening Ceremony, the identity of the final person to light the cauldron here in Rio has been shrouded in mystery.<\/p>\n<p>Many expected Pele, the legendary soccer star, to be holding the torch at the end of its long journey. But <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport\/olympics\/36987483\" target=\"_blank\">Pele<\/a>, 75, had hip surgery earlier this year and said he wouldn&#8217;t be able to take part in the Opening Ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,&#8221; film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n<p>Meirelles, one of the show&#8217;s three creative directors, is the director of <em>City of God<\/em>, the 2002 film that shares its name with a <em>favela<\/em> just five miles away from Rio&#8217;s new Olympic Park, as we reported <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488696800\/-it-s-going-to-be-awesome-a-rio-2016-opening-ceremony-preview\">in our preview of the show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Soccer and a few other competitions have already begun in these games, but they&#8217;ll begin in earnest Saturday and will run until the day of the Closing Ceremony on Aug. 21.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/\">Let&#8217;s block ads!<\/a><\/strong> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/fivefilters\/block-ads\/wiki\/There-are-no-acceptable-ads\">(Why?)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Source:: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports\" class=\"colorbox\" title=\"Rio Throws A Party For The World, Kicking Off The 2016 Olympics\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ftpimagefix\" style=\"float:left\"><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586229104-copy-625e1f8afe4400a3d38fd80cf3f9d036b895211e-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Judi Dench reads a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life while a young man is captivated by a plant onstage. \" alt=\"Judi Dench reads a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life while a young man is captivated by a plant onstage. \"><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Judi Dench reads a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life while a young man is captivated by a plant onstage.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586318242-444400913b8347dd8bc47b3a0531e59c2690ad4e-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"A tiny forest of green trees explodes upward into confetti. \" alt=\"A tiny forest of green trees explodes upward into confetti. \"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>A tiny forest of green trees explodes upward into confetti.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Patrick Smith\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586223518-89b18d29488049c7bdd44e06fb2569e4f0d7464e-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Athletes walk into the stadium during the Parade of Nations.\" alt=\"Athletes walk into the stadium during the Parade of Nations.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Athletes walk into the stadium during the Parade of Nations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>David Rogers\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220804-89746d60eecd6b46bb2ab2325d8f45454f10b2b4-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"The Opening Ceremony's directors this week, worked with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.\" alt=\"The Opening Ceremony's directors this week, worked with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>The Opening Ceremony&#8217;s directors this week, worked with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Luis Acosta\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220054_slide-5e1baa0087b41698bc8787faf80e87e400a80dff-s800-c15.jpg\" title='\"I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,\" film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.' alt='\"I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,\" film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.'><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>&#8220;I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,&#8221; film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Clive Mason\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220100_slide-3268e8779572a432583b150dec59a715385c7bdf-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Performers dance during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.\" alt=\"Performers dance during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Performers dance during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Christian Petersen\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220784-619d91945d92518ef07778aa5f393b80901ad994-s800-c15.jpg\" title='Dancer-puppeteers \"walk\" a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.' alt='Dancer-puppeteers \"walk\" a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.'><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Dancer-puppeteers &#8220;walk&#8221; a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Lars Baron\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586221530-71e43f822381b036d686bc33688258731e5b68bb-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Parkour acrobats pounce around on blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene resembling buildings and homes on a mountainside and draw cheers from the crowd during the Metropolis segment.\" alt=\"Parkour acrobats pounce around on blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene resembling buildings and homes on a mountainside and draw cheers from the crowd during the Metropolis segment.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Parkour acrobats pounce around on blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene resembling buildings and homes on a mountainside and draw cheers from the crowd during the Metropolis segment.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Ross Kinnaird\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586220900-38255442e505ec9a41093e220c27e2eecc7e3957-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.\" alt=\"Dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Thomas Coex\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586224256-482044c4ebcbbdc9a854a1fc55fdcc83c69434ca-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Acrobats simulate the arrival of Europeans in ships, three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people. \" alt=\"Acrobats simulate the arrival of Europeans in ships, three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people. \"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Acrobats simulate the arrival of Europeans in ships, three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Gabriel Bouys\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586221648-3475e0ff7bcf69ea81cea3ba7da514e399b65a97-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony.\" alt=\"Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586228904-4920ff4585d9ad6cfe4e5e40f9f3d827822fdd41-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"A wright-brothers style aircraft forms part of the opening ceremony flown by a gentleman in old-fashioned clothes. \" alt=\"A wright-brothers style aircraft forms part of the opening ceremony flown by a gentleman in old-fashioned clothes. \"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>A wright-brothers style aircraft forms part of the opening ceremony flown by a gentleman in old-fashioned clothes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Fabrice Coffrini\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586225032-a0ea3d8bb183c5fb56af4b582ae5da6124781cf6-s800-c15.jpg\" title=\"Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony.\" alt=\"Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span>Hide caption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Previous<\/span><\/span><\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\"><span><span>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<p><span>1<\/span> of <span>13<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\" title=\"Full-screen\">View slideshow<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488732992\/rio-throws-a-party-for-the-world-kicking-off-the-2016-olympics?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=sports#\" title=\"Caption\">i<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rio is welcoming the world to the Summer Olympics \u2014 and after months of negative news and setbacks, organizers for these games on Friday finally got to do what the city&#8217;s famous for: Throw a party, in the form of an hours-long Opening Ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are headlining a show that&#8217;s heavy on samba drums and dancing, highlighting Brazil&#8217;s history and heritage. And the Parade of Nations kicked off with 207 delegations following their flag-bearers into Rio&#8217;s venerable Maracana Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>In keeping with the Opening Ceremony&#8217;s pro-environmental message, athletes are carrying tree seeds into the arena, which they then deposit in a wall of small planter cartridges when they reach their designation spot on the stage. If all goes to plan, the seeds will later make up the Athletes&#8217; Forest in the &#8220;Radical Park&#8221; \u2013 site of BMX, mountain-biking, and whitewater \u2014 in Deodoro.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re live-blogging the Opening Ceremony here, which started at 8 p.m. local time in Brazil (which is one hour ahead of Eastern Time). Because of NBC&#8217;s decision to broadcast the show on a time-delay, our readers on the East Coast in the U.S. won&#8217;t see what we&#8217;re seeing here in Rio until an hour later. The delay will be even longer for audiences across the country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:57 p.m. BRT: A Kinetic Sculpture Fans The Olympic Flame<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586320640_custom-a07c1da6c34ab9beb3bb0f2d553a5e2564480753-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"A gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It's the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash.\" alt=\"A gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It's the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It&#8217;s the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash. <strong>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>With the Olympic flame lit, a gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves. It&#8217;s the work of American artist Anthony Howe, who spent nearly a year working on the sculpture at his studio in Orcas Island, Wash.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:50 p.m. BRT: Kuerten Enters The Arena; De Lima Lights Flame<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Former world No. 1 tennis player Gustavo Kuerten is clearly emotional as he brings the Olympic flame into the stadium. He then hands off to Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Hortencia Marcari \u2014 and then the torch goes to Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, the beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">De Lima was attacked in Athens marathon, lost chance for gold, still danced &amp;blew kisses in last stretch. Video: <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pai5WYkd7o\">https:\/\/t.co\/pai5WYkd7o<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRmelissablock\/status\/761757524752228352\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Famously, de Lima had been leading that Olympic race \u2014 but he was accosted by a spectator, causing him to finish third. His spirits weren&#8217;t dampened \u2014 he blew kisses and waved to the crowd as he ran to the finish line, sometimes holding his arms out as if he were soaring above it all.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586320832_custom-6483548704db2568705ffa3bb2d0b600b6bef03b-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, lights the Olympic cauldron.\" alt=\"Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, lights the Olympic cauldron.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, beloved marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, lights the Olympic cauldron. <strong>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>11:43 p.m. BRT: Back To The Samba<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a rasher of speeches, we were brought back to life with Gilberto Gil performing, and Anitta singing &#8220;Sand\u00e1lia de Prata&#8221; (Silvered Sandal), by Ary Barroso.<\/p>\n<p>This section of the program was started with drummer Wilson das Neves playing a rhythm on a little matchbox as a talented dancer whom the program identifies only as &#8220;an 8-year-old boy&#8221; performs.<\/p>\n<p>Caetano Veloso then takes the stage, after an entrance by drummers from the 12 Baterias of the Samba Schools. Veloso then sings \u2014 and the drumming hits a new peak.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:31 p.m. BRT: Olympic Flag Is Delivered<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Six accomplished athletes carry the flag into the arena. They are:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Marta Vieira (Football), Ellen Gracie (First woman appointed to the Supreme Court in Brazil), Sandra Pires Tavares (Beach volleyball), Oscar Schmidt (Basketball), Joaquim Cruz (Athletics), Rosa Celia Pimentel (Cardiologist and founder of the Pr\u00f3-Crian\u00e7a hospital), Torben Grael (Sailing), Emanuel Rego (Beach volleyball).&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s followed by the Olympic anthem.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:26 p.m. BRT: Brazil&#8217;s Acting Leader Speaks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In a short speech that saw his voice competing with jeers by the end, Brazil&#8217;s Acting President Michel Temer has declared Rio&#8217;s Summer Games to be open. We&#8217;ll note that Temer did not appear earlier in the program, as had been anticipated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:22 p.m. BRT: Doves, And A New Award<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a brief video about his life, Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, runs onto the stage along with a group of children who are carrying small dove kites. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586318280_custom-146f4da273afb7219878db190d3165502fecfaef-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"A group of children run onto the stage carrying small dove kites with Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award.\" alt=\"A group of children run onto the stage carrying small dove kites with Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A group of children run onto the stage carrying small dove kites with Kipchoge Keino, 72 \u2014 a former Olympian who won two gold medals and is now the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Keino is the first-ever winner of the Olympic Laurel award. <strong>Lars Baron\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Lars Baron\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The organizers explain about the kites: &#8220;As they are an integral part of Rio&#8217;s landscapes, kites were chosen to represent our dove of peace. 200 kites were taken from Rio de Janeiro to Kenya and given to children who had never played with kites before. Needless to say, they loved them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:15 p.m. BRT: Thomas Bach, Head Of The IOC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, speaks about the Olympic movement and the importance of equality. He drew the largest cheer of his speech by mentioning the refugee team.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11:03 p.m. BRT: Rio 2016 President Speaks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We welcome you in Rio, the Olympic city,&#8221; says Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Committee. He was announced along with Thomas Bach.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Brazil opens the world with open arms,&#8221; Nuzman says.<\/p>\n<p>He adds, &#8220;I&#8217;m the proudest man alive&#8221; \u2014 and he repeats it, drawing a loud cheer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These are your games,&#8221; Nuzman says, &#8220;the first in South America.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nuzman, we&#8217;ll add, is speaking in both English and Portuguese.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of his speech \u2014 around 7 minutes after he began \u2014 Nuzman introduced Bach and caused a lighter moment with a short-lived flub, calling Bach a man &#8220;who always believed in the sex \u2014 success \u2014 of the Olympic movement.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:58 p.m. BRT: That&#8217;s The Athletes; Now It&#8217;s Tree (Ring) Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brazil version of the <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/olympic?src=hash\">#olympic<\/a> rings <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hn4VjXRlxA\">pic.twitter.com\/hn4VjXRlxA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lulu Garcia-Navarro (@lourdesgnavarro) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lourdesgnavarro\/status\/761746808469065728\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mirrored boxes housing the tree seeds the international athletes had gathered were assembled into the Olympic rings \u2014 which were then opened to show a tiny forest of green trees, which <em>then<\/em> exploded upward into confetti. Fireworks followed, again evoking the famous rings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:52 p.m. BRT: The Party Is On<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brazil&#8217;s team is out on the floor, and the crowd is loving it, in more ways than one: Even those who might be cheering for other nations are ecstatic to hear music that&#8217;s different from the medley of pop hits that had become a bit monotonous.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586318028_custom-88597cec7dc5586e2427245549d3c4308bdfa7a9-s1100-c15.jpg\" title='A member of the Brazil delegation waves a flag. The athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song \"Aquarela do Brasil\" \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as \"Brazil\" \u2014 plays.' alt='A member of the Brazil delegation waves a flag. The athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song \"Aquarela do Brasil\" \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as \"Brazil\" \u2014 plays.'><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A member of the Brazil delegation waves a flag. The athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song &#8220;Aquarela do Brasil&#8221; \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as &#8220;Brazil&#8221; \u2014 plays. <strong>Leon Neal\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Leon Neal\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>That&#8217;s a memory now. All is forgiven. Dressed in blue blazers, the athletes and staff are dancing as a long remix of the classic 1939 song &#8220;Aquarela do Brasil&#8221; \u2014 known to many English-speakers simply as &#8220;Brazil&#8221; \u2014 plays. The crowd treats it like an anthem, which of course, it is.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:45 p.m. BRT: The Refugee Team<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Neither last nor least, the Olympic Team of Refugees emerges to huge cheers, some of the loudest of the night. The UN&#8217;s Ban Ki-Moon and the IOC&#8217;s Thomas Bach stand and applaud.<\/p>\n<p>As the refugees cross into the arena, a chant of Bra-sil! Bra-sil! breaks out. The home team is next.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:45 p.m. BRT: Glad To Be Here: Uganda And Uruguay<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The long wait to emerge was not enough to lull these delegations to sleep. They&#8217;re hitting the floor like they&#8217;ve been waiting to get into a special club \u2014 which, in many senses, they have.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:35 p.m. BRT: The Cauldron, And Its Igniter<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When the cauldron is finally lit, don&#8217;t expect a blaze: Organizers say it will be a &#8220;hybrid cauldron&#8221; that is &#8220;intentionally small and low emission.&#8221; As for who will light it \u2014 that&#8217;s a mystery.<\/p>\n<p>Early reports had suggested Pele \u2014 but after the soccer star said his health would keep him from the honor, local media now say it might be Gustavo Kuerten, the curly-haired tennis player who won three French Open titles from 1997 to 2001 and won fans with his bright personality \u2014 and his bright on-court clothes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:25 BRT: American Samoa Breaks Out A Move<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the American Samoa delegation enters the arena, the motion stops for a brief moment \u2014 one of its members is showing off some dance moves. That came after he lay on the ground, where a woman put a foot on his back. Oddly enough, it seems normal in this colorful parade, into which we&#8217;re now an hour and a half.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Iranian flag-bearer Zahra Nemati is in a wheelchair: she took up archery after she was paralyzed in a car accident. <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Olympics?src=hash\">#Olympics<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash\">#Rio2016<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRmelissablock\/status\/761726660064452608\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>10:20 BRT: Huge Roar For Portugal<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A loud roar of approval greeted Portugal as that nation&#8217;s delegation entered Maracana Stadium.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10:15 p.m. BRT: U.N. Chief Calls For Peace<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>These games are taking place in a time of unprecedented concern over international terrorism \u2014 and during the ceremony, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon released a video calling for a global truce during the Olympics.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ban Ki-moon calls for global truce during <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OlympicGames?src=hash\">#OlympicGames<\/a>,<\/p>\n<p>Here is the video shown at the <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash\">#Rio2016<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a>.<a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0yD7bFLNdm\">https:\/\/t.co\/0yD7bFLNdm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 United Nations (@UN) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UN\/status\/761731246326034433\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>9:34 p.m. BRT: Team USA Enters Maracana<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Led by flag-bearer Michael Phelps, the 555-athlete U.S. delegation enters Maracana Stadium, wearing blue blazers and striped shirts. The contingent, the largest of any country at the games, seemed to stretch from one side of the large stage to the other.<\/p>\n<p>The American athletes enter right after Micronesia \u2014 the &#8220;Estados Federados da Micron\u00e9sia,&#8221; in the host country&#8217;s Portuguese \u2014 and Spain \u2014 &#8220;Espanha.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>9:15 p.m. BRT: Don&#8217;t Get Mixed Up: Some Alphabetical Guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan came out right after Qatar \u2014 in Portuguese, that&#8217;s &#8220;Cazaquist\u00e3o&#8221; following &#8220;Catar.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Chile followed soon after, getting a loud roar from the crowd.<\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kiribati has a tiny, tiny Olympic contingent. But gosh are they having fun as they enter the Rio Olympic <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Russell Lewis (@NPRrussell) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRrussell\/status\/761727945568292864\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>9:09 p.m. BRT: Burkina Faso<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We like what Burkina Faso wore tonight. With only five athletes in Rio, they may win the cool-per-capita contest. We are not surprised.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:59 p.m. BRT: Independent Athletes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As usual at the Olympics, there are loud cheers for the independent athletes \u2014 there are nine at these games.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:56 p.m. BRT: &#8216;Arabia Saudita&#8217; Is In The House<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll remind you, all the countries are first announced in Portuguese. Saudi Arabia now enters the stadium, including their four female athletes. All told, they have nine.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after their arrival, loud cheers (and some other less friendly sounds) greeted the Argentine delegation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:50 p.m. BRT: Here Come The Athletes (!)<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Best dance moves of a flag bearer goes to: Belize! Brandon Jones, you are awesome. <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash\">#Rio2016<\/a> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NPRRio?src=hash\">#NPRRio<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NPRmelissablock\/status\/761715161535246336\">August 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>The stage has been cleared, and it seems the athletes will come out now \u2014 and here they are, led by a tricked-out, florescent three-wheeled bicycle (if that makes sense) ridden by a smiling man.<\/p>\n<p>As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece. Because they started the whole thing.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-5862228381_custom-189dd8405f83b96d9d2d1f0d87e60dd848154ab6-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"Athletes come out led by a tricked-out florescent three-wheeled bicycle. As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece.\" alt=\"Athletes come out led by a tricked-out florescent three-wheeled bicycle. As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Athletes come out led by a tricked-out florescent three-wheeled bicycle. As is customary at the Olympics, the first delegation out of the gate is that of Greece. <strong>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Paul Gilham\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>8:48 p.m. BRT: A Plant Sprouts On Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We hear the voice of Judi Dench reading a text about the miracle of a flower pushing its way into life. Her words are repeated in Portuguese as we see photos of people planting trees and other plants.<\/p>\n<p>Dench and Brazilian actress Fernanda Montenegrois are reading a poem: &#8220;A Flor e a N\u00e1usea&#8221; by Carlos Drumond de Andrade.<\/p>\n<p>Then we see a young man who had been captivated by the plant pick it up and walk it across the stage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:44 p.m. BRT: Climate Change<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now the visuals \u2014 and speech \u2014 is devoted to talking about the Earth&#8217;s changing temperatures and the melting of huge ice deposits.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:38 p.m. BRT: Pop, Youth, And The Favela<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The music now pumps up into the sounds of young talents in Brazil, and the colors explode on the stage as dancers get moving again.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re hearing Ludmilla, 21, singing &#8220;Rap da Felicidade&#8221; (Happiness Rap), which organizers call &#8220;an anthem of the carioca [Rio native] favelas.&#8221; There&#8217;s also dancing by Christian Do Passinho, 13.<\/p>\n<p>Then (we have to admit) we&#8217;ve lost our place a bit, because this is a spectacle.<\/p>\n<p>Catching up: Elza Soares sang &#8220;Canto de Ossanha&#8221; by Baden Powel and Vinicius de Moraes, and Zeca Pagodinho and Marcelo D2 also sang.<\/p>\n<p>We also glimpsed MC Soffia, 12 \u2014 in magenta braids \u2014 and rapper Karol Conka, in a segment devoted to empowerment.<\/p>\n<p>And in a moving portion of the program, Jorge Ben played guitar as Regina Cas\u00e9 led the audience in dancing to the sound of &#8220;Pa\u00eds Tropical.&#8221; Dancers filled the stage.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-586226800_custom-443b1fa069d7f924cd4346350fb4dbadf000320e-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"The music pumps and the colors explode on the stage as dancers move.\" alt=\"The music pumps and the colors explode on the stage as dancers move.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>The music pumps and the colors explode on the stage as dancers move. <strong>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>Jewel Samad\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#8216;Here is to diversity&#8217; shouts presenter Regina Case <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OpeningCeremony?src=hash\">#OpeningCeremony<\/a> then full on party in the arena. Joy!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lulu Garcia-Navarro (@lourdesgnavarro) <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lourdesgnavarro\/status\/761708744959025154\">August 5, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>8:30 p.m. BRT: Building An Airplane \u2013 And Flying Away<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An urban scene culminates in acrobats passing white blocks around to an area of the stage, which are then seemingly assembled into an airplane.<\/p>\n<p>And in a nice bit of magic, that ends in a gent in old-fashioned clothes firing up the engine on a Wright Brothers-style plane.<\/p>\n<p>All seems a bit confusing as the guy just keeps on flying. But then all seems OK \u2014 because now we see Tom Jobim, and we see his grandson Daniel Jobim at the piano, playing Jobim&#8217;s classic &#8220;Girl from Ipanema.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The audience sings \u2014 and out walks Gisele Bundchen, wearing a silver dress that looks to our discerning eye like it was designed by Alexandre Herchcovitch.<\/p>\n<p>The audience just keeps singing, as Bundchen walks toward an image of a smiling Tom Jobim projected on a building. And it&#8217;s a nice moment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:25 p.m. BRT: Building Blocks Of Modern Brazil<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The geometric shapes now have right angles, and we&#8217;re seeing blocks pushed into an urban rooftop scene.<\/p>\n<p>It all culminates in the impressive sight of buildings and homes on a mountainside, drawing cheers from the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Parkour acrobats then pounce around on the scene, dressed in what looks to be fuschia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:20 p.m. BRT:<\/strong> <strong>Machines And Slavery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Groups symbolizing the Africans who were brought to Brazil by force arrive.<\/p>\n<p>As the official guide tells us, &#8220;Their trails show graphic patterns, reminding us that African culture is at the basis of everything we call &#8216;Brazilian.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And as NPR&#8217;s Melissa Block has reported:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s estimated 4 million enslaved Africans were brought to Brazil. That&#8217;s more than any country in the Americas; some 10 times the number of slaves brought to the United States. And Brazil didn&#8217;t abolish slavery until 1888. It was the last country in the Americas to do so.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>They&#8217;re followed by two other groups, representing immigration from the Middle East and Asia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:15 p.m. BRT: Europeans Arrive In Ships<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Acrobats simulate the arrival of three mechanical Caravels, where they meet indigenous people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:14 p.m. BRT: Green Forest, And Its Intricate Web Of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From the beginning of life we move into a sea of green, evoking the massive forests of ancient Brazil.<\/p>\n<p>In a (very) cool effect, dancers who represent indigenous people hold onto hundreds of long elastic bands and perform native dances, forming intricate patterns and forming and reforming into groups.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:10 p.m. BRT: The Waves \u2014 And Some Lightning<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The stage floor is now transformed into the wash of an ocean&#8217;s waves breaking on the beach. Groups of white-clad dancer-puppeteers then &#8220;walk&#8221; a series of large stick-figured animals across the surface.<\/p>\n<p>This is, the official guide tells us, a &#8220;recreation of the beginning of life,&#8221; with microorganisms in a piece by the video artist Susi Sie.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:07 p.m. BRT: Brazil&#8217;s National Anthem<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After an introduction by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, legendary (get used to that word) musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2016\/08\/05\/gettyimages-5862208501_custom-6eb69174c55ebca591a2edfbed537f67fc41a514-s1100-c15.jpg\" title=\"Musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra.\" alt=\"Musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra.\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Musician Paulinho da Viola plays (and sings) the national anthem on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the audience and a small string orchestra. <strong>David Rogers\/Getty Images<\/strong> <strong>hide caption<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>toggle caption<\/strong> <span>David Rogers\/Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some sample lyrics:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Eternally lying in a splendid cradle,<br \/>\nBy the sound of the sea and the light of the deep sky,<br \/>\nThou shinest, O Brazil, garland of America,<br \/>\nIlluminated by the sun of the New World!<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thy smiling, lovely fields have more flowers<br \/>\nThan the most elegant land abroad,<br \/>\nOur woods have more life,<br \/>\nOur life in thy bosom more love.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;O beloved,<br \/>\nIdolized homeland,<br \/>\nHail, hail!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In what seems to be a break with the plan, Brazil&#8217;s interim President Michel Temer was not introduced, as NPR&#8217;s Lulu Garcia-Navarro tells us. We&#8217;re expecting to see Temer later.<\/p>\n<p>The shape of the stage was inspired by Burle Marx, the famed master landscape designer and artist who in 1970 completed Copacabana Beach&#8217;s trademark wavy pavement designs, and whose estate on the western outskirts of Rio is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8:05 p.m. BRT: Countdown And Then \u2014 Fireworks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Next up: An opening segment on three themes, from the &#8220;gambiarra&#8221; \u2013organizers call it &#8220;the Brazilian talent for making something great out of almost nothing.&#8221; That idea was also cited by the Opening Ceremony&#8217;s directors this week, as they discussed &#8220;MacGyvering&#8221; \u2014 working with a budget that was a fraction of the amount spent to launch the last two Summer Olympics, in London and Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>Dancers in the center of the space performed a countdown that was chanted by the audience. At the end, fireworks erupted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8 p.m. BRT: And We&#8217;re Off!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the live show begins, we watch a video that features beautiful aerial shots of the host city. We&#8217;re hearing bossa nova (&#8220;new wave&#8221;) music \u2014 &#8220;Aquele Abra\u00e7o&#8221; by Gilberto Gil, sung by Luiz Melodia. We&#8217;re watching waves roll in on the beach.<\/p>\n<p><em>Our original post continues:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The American team will be led into the arena by Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 22 medals, 18 of them gold. At age 31, he still holds seven world records.<\/p>\n<p>More than 11,400 athletes will take part in these games. They&#8217;ll enter the stadium in the order of their delegation&#8217;s name in Portuguese \u2014 which means Team USA, with 555 athletes, will enter the stadium as <em>Estados Unidos<\/em>, placing the Americans toward the front half of the parade.<\/p>\n<p>As is traditional with the Opening Ceremony, the identity of the final person to light the cauldron here in Rio has been shrouded in mystery.<\/p>\n<p>Many expected Pele, the legendary soccer star, to be holding the torch at the end of its long journey. But <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport\/olympics\/36987483\" target=\"_blank\">Pele<\/a>, 75, had hip surgery earlier this year and said he wouldn&#8217;t be able to take part in the Opening Ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I hope that the Opening Ceremony will be a drug for depression in Brazil,&#8221; film director Fernando Meirelles said of the show in Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n<p>Meirelles, one of the show&#8217;s three creative directors, is the director of <em>City of God<\/em>, the 2002 film that shares its name with a <em>favela<\/em> just five miles away from Rio&#8217;s new Olympic Park, as we reported <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetorch\/2016\/08\/05\/488696800\/-it-s-going-to-be-awesome-a-rio-2016-opening-ceremony-preview\">in our preview of the show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Soccer and a few other competitions have already begun in these games, but they&#8217;ll begin in earnest Saturday and will run until the day of the Closing Ceremony on Aug. 21.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/\">Let&#8217;s block ads!<\/a><\/strong> <a class=\"colorbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/fivefilters\/block-ads\/wiki\/There-are-no-acceptable-ads\">(Why?)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[221],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7741"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7741\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}