Flagbearer Datuk Lee Chong Wei leads the Malaysian contingent into the stadium. (Inset) Fireworks explode during the curtain-raiser. — Reuters photo
RIO DE JANEIRO: Samba dances, explosion of colors and carnival Brazlian spirit filled the air in the iconic Maracana Stadium as Rio heralded the first ever Olympic Games in South America here on Friday night.
Showcases of the richness of Brazlian popular culture and the energy and passion of thousands of volunteers kept the 70,000 specators and an estimated three billion worldwide television audience glued to the seat.
The four-hour energetic programme kicked off with the Brazilian national anthem followed by performances of various artistes with laser lit cheoregraphy and fireworks, depicting the call to save the forest in the state and planet from climate change.
Dozens of heads of state including United Nation Secretary General Ban Kim Moon, France president Francois Hollande and Brazilian interim president Michel Temer were in party mode to the burst of fireworks and colorful presentation by 5,000 volunteers.
Five hours earlier, before the start of the opening ceremony, the security forces enforced a five-kilometer radius locked down around the 78,600 capacity stadium.
However, a small group of protesters were outside the stadium, angry with the country’s recession, corruption and cost of the Games.
The low-tech ceremony albeit a massive budget slash from intial US$113 million to US$55.9 million did not deter artistic director, Fernando Meirelles, from presenting a glittering ceremony.
Malaysia made their entrance into the stadium as 119th of the 206 nations and the 10-member refugee contingent marching behind the white Olympic flag.
Led by Datuk Lee Chong Wei as the flag bearer of the 32-athlete contingent, the Malaysians were clad in orange baju kurung and baju Melayu with tiger stripes motif for their selendang and samping.
Malaysia will start the 31st Olympiad with a feverish desire to end a 60-year wait for the elusive gold medal with expectations on Chong Wei to cap his Olympic farewell.
The national cycling team did not participate in the traditional march past as they will only arrive in Rio tomorrow after a month-long training stint in Portugal.
Malaysia collected a silver medal through Chong Wei and a bronze from diving queen, Pandelela Rinong, in the last edition in London, four years ago.
The national contingent trooped into the stadium according to the Portugese alphabetic order, waving their hands to the crowd.
Before the official start of the Games, Souh Korean archer, Kim Woo Jin set the first Olympic and world record in the games when he shattered the men’s individual recurve 72 arrows during the qualifying ranking round with 700 points.
He cracked his compatriot, Im Dong-Hyun’s record of 699 points set in the 2012 London Games.
Football legend Pele did not light the Olympic cauldron as the 75-year-old and three World Cup winner has been suffering from poor health and had hip surgery earlier this year.
Temer declared the Games open after Brazil, as the final contingent, paraded in, to the thunderous applause of the crowd.
The stage is all set now for the 10,000 athletes to look for glory in the 17-day challenge which draws the curtain on Aug 21.