Rio Olympics 2016: Opening Ceremony Celebrates Brazil to Open Games

Local Editor

The 2016 Olympics have been formally opened with a colorful and pulsating ceremony at Rio's Maracana stadium.

Broadcast to an estimated audience of three billion, it celebrated Brazil's history, culture and natural beauty, before former marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima lit the Olympic cauldron.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray led the Great Britain team into the arena.

The build-up to Rio 2016 has been played out against a deep recession and political protests in Brazil.

The Games, the first to be held in South America, have also been disrupted by concerns over the Russian doping scandal, the Zika virus and problems with the city's security, infrastructure and venues.

But organizers will hope the focus can now shift to the action in 28 sports, with 207 teams, after the Games of the 31st Olympiad were officially opened.

The cauldron was lit by De Lima, who won bronze for Brazil in the marathon at the 2004 Games after he was grappled by a spectator while leading the race.

Football legend Pele had ruled himself out of performing the role saying he was not in the right "physical condition".

With Brazil's economy struggling, the budget for the opening ceremony was thought to be considerably less than the £30m spent at London 2012.

And while Rio's event did not match the enormous ambition of the ceremony directed by Danny Boyle four years ago, those inside the Maracana were treated to a show that mixed light displays, fireworks, dancing and music.

Starting with images of micro-organisms dividing - representing the beginning of life - the ceremony highlighted the contributions made by the nation's indigenous peoples, by Portuguese explorers, by African slaves and by Japanese immigrants to Brazil's history and culture.

One of the warmest welcomes of the evening was given to a team consisting of refugee athletes. They were the penultimate group to enter the stadium.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the team were sending "a message of hope to the millions of refugees around the globe".

Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman said he was "the proudest man alive", adding: "I am proud of my city, proud of my country. Let's celebrate together as we work together to build the Games."

But Brazil's interim president, Michel Temer was booed by some as he declared the Games open - a reminder of the country's deep political crisis.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team