The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality. Brazil welcomes the world with open arms. – Carlos Nuzman
RIO DE JANEIRO — Like the country it represented, the 2016 Olympic opening ceremony was a colorful, musical mashup of history, culture, music and political messaging that culminated in the lighting of a unique Olympic torch and traditional fireworks.
Stretching nearly four hours, the opening ceremony turned from a celebration of Brazilian history, music and culture into an appeal to help save the environment and come together as human beings. Rio de Janeiro is the largest urban rain forest in the world and home to more than 50,000 cataloged species of trees.
The environmental message was a stark contrast to the realities of these Games, especially in light of the fact that officials destroyed part of a rain forest to build Olympic housing. The environmental message, while beautiful, seemed odd given that officials also failed to keep a promise to clean up the city’s sewer-infested waterways, including now infamous Guanabara Bay, where athletes will compete in a number of water sports.
The opening ceremony included a tribute to the many nationalities that have contributed to Brazil’s culture — indigenous people, Europeans (who came as explorers and conquerers), Africans (who came as slaves), and Arabs and Asians (who came as immigrants escaping hardships).
There was a music section that depicted how divided the world is now, because of these cultural differences, which culminated with a sort of musical showdown that included Brazilian originals like Samba and Passinho. Then a voice asks if “there is a way out” of the trouble, and then a colorful display explodes and melds together as a Brazilian actress declares, “Here’s to diversity!”
That message was reiterated when International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach talked about the first team of refugees who will compete in these games as a team under the Olympic flag. The 10 athletes who make up the Refugee team received massive cheers and applause when they entered the stadium, just ahead of the host country’s delegation. Bach told the refugees that they represented “refugees from around the world” who’d left their countries because of violence or persecution “just because they were different.”
“You are making a great contribution to society,” Bach said. “In this Olympic world, we do not just tolerate diversity. In this Olympic world, we welcome you as an enrichment to our unity and diversity.”
Unity and diversity were themes celebrated throughout the program. The message of peace, which included a peace symbol made of foliage, was again a bit of a contrast to some the scene outside Maracana Stadium. The streets traveled by athletes, journalists and dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, were lined with police and military personnel, including tanks. Police also dealt with protesters at a park a short walk from the stadium by deploying tear gas.
Still, the beauty of the ceremony was moving from the taste of Brazil’s multicultural history to the unusual move of creating a legacy that honors the athletes and benefits the city of Rio de Janeiro. A tree will be planted for every athlete who participates in the games, more than 10,500 trees, in Deodoro. There will be 207 species of seeds planted, one for each country participating in the Games.
Also, the first time in Summer Games history, a woman led the athletes into Opening Ceremonies. Greece’s Sofia Bekatarou, 38, whose sport is sailing, was chosen as her country’s flag bearer. Because the Greek delegation always leads the procession, the three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist became the first woman to have that honor.
The U.S. delegation was led by swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated American athlete ever with 22 Olympic medals, but he exited the building as soon as he crossed the floor and secured the flag.
The crowd of more than 60,000 cheered loudest and longest for their own athletes and those of other South American Countries. The U.S., Great Britain, Spain, Mexico, France, Portugal and Israel enjoyed huge applause, as well.
The loudest, longest cheers were reserved for Brazil, but the team of refugees met with a lot of love from both fans and the other athletes.
Three time French Open champion tennis player Gustavo “Gaga” Kuerten carried the flame into Maracana Stadium, handing it off to marthon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, who lit what might be the most interesting cauldron in Olympic history.
Normally a structure that produces a lot of fire, the Brazilian “hybrid” cauldron offers a small flame, a nod to the call for reducing global warming, cradled by a moving sculpture that spirals to represent the sun.
“The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality,” said Carlos Nuzman, a former Olympic volleyball player and president of Brazil’s Olympic Committee and the man credited with conceiving of the idea to bring the Games to Rio. “Brazil welcomes the world with open arms. I’m the proudest man alive. I’m proud of my city. I’m proud of my country.”
His speech, in which he switched between Portugese and English, praised his countrymen for the work and sacrifices required to host the Games.
He declared the “transformation” complete, and then said, ‘It’s a job we could only finish with the help of our people and the three levels of government,” he said. “Boys and girls that transformed the world … always believe in your dreams. We will not give up on our dreams; we will never give up.”
After rousing applause from the crowd, he continued.
“Our dream is the Olympic City, transformed by the games,” he said. “This marvelous city is the perfect setting. Let’s live our dream together. … Let’s stay together when differences challenge us. In the name of all Brazilians, I welcome the world.”
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