Rio Olympics 2016 Opening Ceremony Highlights- Olympic Flame Lit, Games Kick Off
The 2016 Rio Olympic games officially kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium. India's contingent was led by Abhinav Bindra while the rest of the 206 nations displayed their strength. The Olympics will continue till August 21. Relive all the highlights here.
The Maracana witnessed a grand opening ceremony which saw the full glory of the Olympics. 206 nations participated but the loudest cheers were reserved for the Refugee Olympic team, who were making their maiden appearance in the games. For India, Abhinav Bindra was the flag-bearer for the strong 118 contingent. Relive all the highlights here. (WHERE TO SEE LIVE | NEWS | VIDEOS)
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08:23 hrs IST: From here, the flame will be lit again in the centre of Rio. The games have now officially kicked off.
08:19 hrs IST: Kuerten hands over the flame to basketball player, Hortencia Marcari. She passes the flame to marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, lights the cauldron and the games will finally begin. The cauldron has been lit and it has been designed in such a way that the emissions are low.
08:17 hrs IST: The Olympic flame is being carried by Gustavo Kuerten, the three-time French Open champion. He replaces Pele, who could not make it due to illness. Loud cheer greets him at the Maracana.
08:15 hrs IST: The Samba and the Carnival highlight the colourful night even further. It is now time for the Olympic flame to be lit.
08:12 hrs IST: The Samba beats echo around Rio de Janiero. Beatriz Milhazes, a famous Brazilian artist, welcomes the 12 important drum sections of the main Samba Schools in the city.
08:05 hrs IST: The Olympic oaths are now being administered. A further 25 minutes to go before the Olympic flame is being lit.
08:01 hrs IST: The Olympic flag is now being hoisted and the Olympic anthem is now being sung.
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07:58 hrs IST: The Olympic flag is being carried by 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 Pro-Criança hospital), Torben Grael (Sailing), Emanuel Rego (Beach volleyball)
07:55 hrs IST: Brazil's Interim president, Michel Temer, declares the games open but is jeered by the large sections of the fans. There is still a lot of political instability in Brazil
07:51 hrs IST: Kipchoge Hezekiah "Kip" Keino won the 1500 m gold in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and also won the 3000 m steeplechase in the 1972 Munich Games. Bach hands him with the Olympic Laurel to celebrate this most famous Kenyan athlete.
07:40 hrs IST: Thomas Bach, IOC president, is up next. He says, "This is the moment we have all waited for. The first-ever games from South America will go from Brazil to the whole world. All Brazilians can be very proud of this night. With the Olympic Games as the catalyst, you have achieved in seven years what generations have struggled. You have transformed Rio de Janeiro and made it even more beautiful. Our admiration for you is greater. You have managed it during one of the most difficult times in Brazilian history."
"We have lived through mistrust and a whole host of problems. Athletes are living in the Olympic village, sharing their meals and emotions. In this Olympic world, there is one universal law for everybody. In this Olympic world, we are all equal. The values of our shared humanity is stronger than the forces that want to divide us. I call upon the Olympic athletes to respect yourself, respect each other and respect the Olympic values. We are living in a world where selfishness is rampant. Here is our Olympic answer. In the spirit of Olympic solidarity, we welcome the Refugee Olympic Team."
"The Refugee Athletes are sending a hope to the millions of refugees. Having to leave home because of hunger, violence and just because you are different. Because of your human spirit, you are making a great cause to humanity. In this Olympic world, we welcome you as an enrichment to our diversity. There are millions of people who contribute in different ways. The IOC has created a unique distinction for the first time ever. In the field of education, culture, the Olympic Laurel is awarded to the Olympic champion, Kipchoge Hezekiah "Kip" Keino
07:32 hrs IST: The chairman of the 2016 Rio Organising committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, welcomes all the athletes of the world and says, "The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality. Brazil welcomes the world with open arms. I am the proudest man alive. I am proud to talk to the best athletes in the world. Let us celebrate together. These are your games, the first in South America. Rio is proud to be the Olympic capital of the world."
07:30 hrs IST: More fireworks erupt from the Maracana. Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee President, is all set to declare the games open.
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07:27 hrs IST: All the athletes are mingling with each other as the Athletes parade ends. We are not entering the final phase of the Olympic opening ceremony.
07:23 hrs IST: The final team that has come out for the Athletes parade is Brazil. There is fun and dancing all-around as the nation hopes to perform well in front of their home fans in Rio 2016.
07:20 hrs IST: We are now in the final stretch. Zambia are the first, followed by Zimbabwe. However, the loudest cheer of the day is reserved for the Refugee Olympic team. It is a magnificent moment in the history of the Olympics. It is made up of refugees from Syria and other war-torn nations. They get a standing ovation.
07:17 hrs IST: Uruguay are the next team and that draws some mixed responses. In 1950, the football team defeated Brazil in the football World Cup final 2-1 and it led to Brazil calling the event "The Maracanazo".
07:15 hrs IST: Ukraine are the next team. Their most successful sport is Gymanastics, where they have won 16 medals.
07:12 hrs IST: Turkmenistan are the next team to arrive. We are slowly approaching the end of the Athletes parade. Turkey is next and there is some cheer for this contingent.
07:07 hrs IST: Tajikistan are the first team in the T group, followed by Thailand. Chinese Taipei are the next, followed by Tanzania.
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07:05 hrs IST: Sweden and Switzerland are the next. For the Swiss, they will be devastated by the loss of Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.
07:00 hrs IST: Senegal are the next African country to arrive at the Maracana, followed by Sierra Leone. Serbia are the next team. Most of the medal hopes rest with Novak Djokovic.
06:54 hrs IST: North Korea are next with a small contingent. Romania, the land of Nadia Comaneci and the gymnasts, are next. Rwanda are next, followed by the Russian Federation. Russia has been plagued by mass-funded state doping and this has seen many of their athletes being suspended.
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06:50 hrs IST: A massive cheer erupts as the Portuguese contingent arrive. Brazil were a former colony of Portugal, but it seems there is still some love for them. Kenya are the next team. 21 gold medals have been won by this team in Athletics.
06:47 hrs IST: Pakistan are next. They will be disappointed that there are only seven athletes for Rio 2016. Their hockey team have not qualified for the games.
06:45 hrs IST: Netherlands are the next team to enter the Maracana. They are a hockey superpower. A huge cheer greets the Palestine National Team. Proud moment for this team.
06:44 hrs IST: New Zealand are the other team that are expected to do well in Rio 2016. Oman begin the next sequence of countries. They are yet to win a medal in the Olympics.
06:40 hrs IST: Montenegro are followed by Myanmar. That ends the M sequence. The country to begin the N sequence is Namibia. The world's smallest Independent republic, Nauru arrive, followed by Nepal. Gaurika Singh, the 17-year-old swimmer, who is the youngest Olympian in Rio, will hope to make Nepal proud.
06:39 hrs IST: Mexico are the next team and there is a loud cheer at the Maracana. Mozambique, Monaco, Mongolia are all showing off their strength in the Olympics.
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06:35 hrs IST: The Indian badminton women's team were in high spirits. Jwala Gutta tweeted a photo from her handle. Meanwhile, Leander Paes has tweeted this
We did it India...Number 7 is Our Olympic Record!!! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/RW6f07oiHp
- Leander Paes (@Leander) August 6, 2016
06:32 hrs IST: Madagascar and Malaysia are the next countries. Five out of six medals have been won in Badminton by Malaysia. Malta are the next in line, with only seven competitors.
06:27 hrs IST: Proud moment for Kosovo as the new country makes an entry into the Olympics for the first time. Lesotho, the country that is totally land-locked by South Africa, are next.
06:25 hrs IST: Inspiring story of Iran's flag bearer Zahra Ne'mati. She had completed in Taekwondo before she suffered a car accident which left her paralysed. However, she fought all the odds to become a paralympic champion. Hats off!
06:24 hrs IST: Jamaica are the next team and a loud cheer erupts. However, the fastest man in the universe, Usain Bolt, has skipped the opening ceremony as he wants to prepare for the athletic event. Japan are next.
06:23 hrs IST: Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Iceland and Israel are the countries who are gracing the Maracana with their presence. A loud cheer erupts in the Maracana as Italy arrive.
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06:19 hrs IST: A proud moment for a billion people as India arrive at the Maracana. Abhinav Bindra is the flag-bearer. They have sent their largest-ever contingent in Rio. Hopes are on Leander Paes and world number two Saina Nehwal to give them glory in Rio.
06:18 hrs IST: Yemen are the next country to arrive. They have sent a team since 1992.
06:16 hrs IST: Haiti and Honduras arrive at the Maracana. Hong Kong are the next. Hungary, the country that has enjoyed success in fencing in Olympic history, are next.
06:12 hrs IST: Georgia are next. A huge cheer for Great Britain, who arrive. The flag-bearer is Andy Murray, who won the Olympic Gold medal in 2012. He won the Wimbledon in 2016. They are the most successful nation in sailing, thanks to Sir Steven Redgrave.
06:09 hrs IST: France, who have hosted the 1900 and 1924 games, are up next. Gabon arrive at the Maracana, followed by Gambia and Ghana. They won an individual medal in the 1972 Munich Games.
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06:06 hrs IST: After USA, Estonia arrive, followed by Ethiopia, one of the most successful distance running nations in the world. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia arrive, followed by Phillipines and Finland.
06:04 hrs IST: A massive roar greets the United States of America, the greatest Olympic nation as far as medals are concerned. Michael Phelps, who has won a total of 18 gold medals in history and possibly one of the greatest ever Olympians in history is the flag-bearer. If Phelps was a country, he would rank in the top 40 on his hauls alone.
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06:02 hrs IST: Spain are up next and they are being led by Rafael Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam champion. Broad smiles from the Spaniard. He was given a chance to carry the flag in London 2012 but had to pull out due to injury.
06:01 hrs IST: Slovenia are next. The capital, Ljubljana, is called the 'Green Capital of Europe'.
05:57 hrs IST: Egypt are the next team. They are also a strong contender. El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, Eritrea and Slovakia are next. The names of the teams are in Portuguese and are spelled differently, so don't get confused with the alphabetical order.
05:55 hrs IST: The country prominent in sailing and cycling, Denmark, will be once again looking to add to their tally of two golds won in 2012 London Olympics. Djibouti are next. Dominican Republic are next.
05:53 hrs IST: Croatia are next. The locals remind people all over the world that the country has the most number of medal winners per capita income. Cuba are next, the most successful nation in boxing.
05:50 hrs IST: Democratic Republic of Congo are at the Maracana. Cook Islands are followed by the Republic of Korea. They are strong in Archery and Badminton. Ivory Coast are next, followed by Costa Rica.
05:48 hrs IST: Cyprus are next. A loud cheer greets the Colombian contingent. The country has won two gold medals, both by female athletes in Sydney 2000 and London 2012. The African island of Comores is next.
05:47 hrs IST: China, the Olympic powerhouse are next. They topped the medal charts in 2012 London Olympics. They will be expected to provide major competition to the United States of America.
05:45 hrs IST: Cayman Islands and Central African Republic are next. The next African nation, Chad, are out in the Maracana. Next up is Chile, who are being led by Erica Oliviera. They are one out of 14 nations to have participated in the 1896 Athens Olympics.
05:42 hrs IST: A roar goes up in the Maracana as Canada comes up. Qatar are next. In Portuguese, it is spelled with a C so that is why they are coming up next. Kazakhstan, the nation that are famous in boxing and weightlifting, are next on display.
05:41 hrs IST: The former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde is up next. Cameroon, the football gold medalists in 2000, are next. Remember Samuel Eto? Cambodia are next.
05:38 hrs IST: Bosnia display their prowess, followed by Botswana. Brunei Darussalam come up next and they will be followed by Bulgaria. Burkina Faso are an emerging power in football, especially in African football.
05:34 hrs IST: Belarus are the next nation on display. They won two medals in 2012 London. Belgium come up and they are the powerhouse in Archery.
05:32 hrs IST: Azerbaijan are next. Bahamas are next, followed by Bangladesh and Barbados. The Caribbean island has won only one bronze medal, which came in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Next up are Bahrain.
05:30 hrs IST: Australia are next. They are the fourth-biggest delegation. Traditionally, they are strong in swimming. Anna Meares is the flag-bearer. Australia is followed by Austria. They will be hoping to win a medal after not winning a medal in 2012 London.
05:29 hrs IST: The small Caribbean island of Aruba are next. They have never won an Olympic medal so far. Next up are the Independent Olympic Athletes. These are the athletes who are from federations that have been suspended.
05:27 hrs IST: Algeria is followed by Argentina. The Argentine contingent are planting a seed, an initiation for Green Earth. Armenia are next. They are a strong force in Greco-Roman wrestling.
05:26 hrs IST: Antigua and Barbuda are next. A country within the vast Caribbean, which we call the West Indies in cricket. Saudi Arabia the first Middle East country to parade in the Rio 2016. There are four female competitors, the first time such a number has come from Saudi.
05:25 hrs IST: Androrra is the next team to arrive. It is a country between Spain and France. The Angolan contingent is next. They are yet to win a medal in the Olympics.
05:23 hrs IST: The fourth country is Albania. The flag bearer is an athlete who has won a medal in the Olympics. She won the silver in the 1500 m. The fifth country is Germany. There are 425 members in the contingent, led by Timo Boll.
05:22 hrs IST: The second team to arrive is Afghanistan. There are just three athletes from the country. The third country in the list is South Africa
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05:21 hrs IST: The first team to parade in the opening ceremony is Greece. The country hosted the first Olympics in 1896 and it has been a tradition to start with Greece.
05:18 hrs IST: The environment is one of the major themes heading into the Olympics. The next documentary shows Judi Dench interpreting Carlos Andrade's 'A Flor e a Nausea', which highlights a flower of hope for the future. With the planting of a new sapling, there is a new hope for the world.
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05:14 hrs IST: The fireworks begin once more. Looks like the next stage will be the teams coming through.
05:09 hrs IST: Regina Casey is urging audiences to accept disturbances as there is more song and dance at the Maracana.A 12-year-old rapper highlighted another thing which defines Brazil, which was breakdancing.
05:03 hrs IST: The 'Happiness Rap' is now being played out at the Maracana.
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04:59 hrs IST: 'The Girl from Ipanema', sung by Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz, is the world's second-most popular song is being played out. Giselle Bundchen takes the cat-walk. She is the girl from Ipanema and on the big stage, she has lit up the Olympic opening ceremony.
04:57 hrs IST: The focus now shifts to Alberto Santos-Dumont, Brazil's aviation pioneer before the Wright Brothers. He is considered an icon for Brazil. Rio de Janeiro's second major airport is named after Santos-Dumont.
04:54 hrs IST: There are reports that Gustavo Kuerten, the three-time French Open champion from Brazil, will light the Olympic torch in place of Pele. Will keep you posted on that.
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04:52 hrs IST: The next stage is showing the development of contemporary, modern Brazil. The dancers are leaping through some tall buildings as the city landscape changes.
04:49 hrs IST: The next segment shows the immigration of Africans into Brazil and their period under slavery. The focus then shifts to immigration from the Middle East and Asia. The Japanese immigrants, who arrived in Brazil five decades ago, also display their culture.
04:46 hrs IST: The focus now shifts to the European invasion and how the locals reacted. Their arrival resulted in massive upheavals, leaving their trails on the land.
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04:44 hrs IST: There is a depiction of the Amazon rain forest and the indigenous people that populate that part of Brazil. The Amazon forest, one of the largest in the world, is Brazil's lifeline. The band is now organising three native huts.
04:42 hrs IST: The next segment chronicles the evolution of life in Brazil. From the land of the palm trees to life emerging from water, from the tribals to the European invasion, the sequence has been well-chronicled.
04:38 hrs IST: The Brazilian national anthem has been sung and the Brazilian flag has been hoisted. The vocals were rendered by Paulinho da Viola.
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04:34 hrs IST: The countdown is here. It is the final countdown. It is The Gambiarra, , the Brazilian talent of making something great out of nothing. Fireworks illuminate the Maracana. It is finally here. Hello, #Rio2016.
04:33 hrs IST: The first sights of the opening ceremony is a video of the sights and sounds of Rio and how citizens are gearing up for the games. With a montage of all the sporting events, Rio is ready.
#Rio2016 em fogos no Maracana! #CerimoniaDeAbertura pic.twitter.com/rAou7ubZfD
- Rio 2016 (@Rio2016) August 5, 2016
04:30 hrs IST: The city of Rio was appointed as the Olympic venue in 2009. Now 2500 days later, it is time for the citizens of Rio to say Hello to the Olympics.
04:25 hrs IST: Live visuals from the Maracana show that the stadium is absolutely bustling. The record crowd at the stadium is 199,000 which was during the 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay. The opening ceremony is all set to begin in about five minutes time.
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04:16 hrs IST: India's best-ever medals tally was six in the 2012 London Olympics. Will they better their mark in 2016? Will the shooters delivery glory for India? Will Saina Nehwal mount the summit? Will Leander Paes, the ageless wonder and Sania Mirza, give glory to India? All these questions will be answered in the next two weeks
04:09 hrs IST: The flag bearer of the Indian contingent will be Abhinav Bindra, India's only individual gold medalist. Bindra, who is 33, will be aiming to go out on a high with a repeat of his historic performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
04:04 AM IST: With news regarding the Indian contingent, the Archery qualifying event kicked off yesterday with Atanu Das finishing in fifth place. Dipika Kumari finished 20th. The Indian Archery team finished 7th overall.
04:00 AM IST: It is time! The quadrennial extravaganza, which is called Olympics, is finally here. After some logistical issues, health scares, security fears and an unstable political situation, the games are all set to begin. It starts with a grand opening ceremony at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janiero in about 30 minutes time.