Summer Olympics 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

[heartgirl99]

it's going to be interesting.
i just hope everything goes peacefully.

[Natalka]

They are cracking down on GIFs -

The Olympics is a GIF gold mine, thanks to athletes' superhuman feats of strength, agility and speed, all the crazy fans and the hilarious moments in between. This year, though, the International Olympic Committee will make it harder to find them: it has prohibited the press from releasing animated GIFs and even short videos like Vines.

https://www.rt.com/viral/354693-olym...ban-reactions/

[Natalka]

There is a track - they call it the blue oval







https://www.rio2016.com/en/news/rhap...lympic-stadium

[Natalka]

Russia will have 271 athletes eligible to compete at the Rio Games, says the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This is more than two-thirds of their original entry list of 389 athletes, despite the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) recommending a blanket ban after a state-sponsored doping scandal.
Russia's Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said his country will have "the cleanest team" at the Games.


"The Russian team may have experienced the toughest checks of the Olympics, because they had to go through multiple tests and checked," said Zhukov.
"On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic Village.
"So, as of now, the Russian team is probably the cleanest in Rio."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36970627

[Natalka]

Torch begins final race to stadium from beneath Rio's Christ





RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The Olympic torch was raised before Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue on Friday on the final leg of its journey to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, as Brazil excitedly put the final touches to seven years of preparations.

Former Brazilian women's volleyball player, Maria Isabel Barroso Salgado, lifted the flame beneath the outstretched arms of the giant statue of Christ that overlooks Rio's Guanabara bay.


"May this be the moment for us to overcome difficult times and to work as a team, to make our country and our world fairer and safer, full of hope and joy," said Rio's Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta, flanked by Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/par...3333--oly.html

[Brasileira]

As a Brazilian it really saddens me to know that the Olympic events (opening ceremony) will be plain, and not more elaborate.
Even through all the political turmoil, the Brazilian people are full of life, joy, color.
This would have been a great opportunity to make Brazil, it's life and its culture shine, but instead(just like the World Cup) they have spent a ridiculous amount of money and still done something subpar.

[Lynn49]

As a Brazilian it really saddens me to know that the Olympic events (opening ceremony) will be plain, and not more elaborate.
Even through all the political turmoil, the Brazilian people are full of life, joy, color.
This would have been a great opportunity to make Brazil, it's life and its culture shine, but instead(just like the World Cup) they have spent a ridiculous amount of money and still done something subpar.

You know, maybe like so many other things in the world, people and countries trying to out-do each other, a more humble, honest ceremony might just be what's needed these days. We seem to expect each successive ceremony to out-perform anything that's been done before, and are 'disappointed' when fireworks aren't shooting out of people's butts.
Personally, I'm looking forward to what's been described as an all-inclusive ceremony celebrating the many cultures that have contributed to Brazil over the years, audience participation. Maybe that's what the Olympics were always meant to be.

{{{stepping elegantly off her soap-box}}}...jmho. I hope it does go off without a hitch, too...


Unfortunately, behind the scenes in Brazil, particularly in Rio, violence and death have once again raised their ugly heads. Before the Fifa world cup in 2014 and now, police and military have once again exhibited a "shoot first and ask questions later" policy. I even doubt many questions have been either asked or answered by the police.

https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/rio-2016...ics-have-begun

With just over a month to go until the Rio 2016 opening ceremony, the pre-Olympic legacy includes more than 2,500 people killed by the police in the city since 2009, when Rio de Janeiro won its bid to host the Games. Over the past few weeks, the sense of defeat has grown before the Games even get under way, with daily shootings and police operations leaving a trail of blood in several of Rio’s favelas.

http://www.amnesty.ca/news/brazil-‘cross-fire’-new-app-document-gun-violence-rio-ahead-olympics

I'm guessing this issue won't be raised during the ceremonies this evening. As a matter of fact, it's been largely glossed-over in any news programs I've watched, if mentioned at all. Usually a one-liner for those killed.

[gryphon]

I'm looking forward to the judo events. Rooting for Sagi Muki to win in his events

[Natalka]

Gee, so much for the Olympics not being political.... (climate change stuff)

LOVE the trikes that usher each country in.

(Am I the only one who keeps reading the name of the stadium as "Macarena"??? - then I get an earworm and do the dance in my head...)

[Natalka]

Canada coming in looks great - they are all SO happy!
I wish they had the men and women wear different outfits - it looks just like a plain sea of red when they are all the same.

Absolutely love the countries which wear their national garb, so beautiful!

OO, the Cook Island women - beautiful green dresses and fabulous wreaths on their heads!

[Darth Penguin]

(Am I the only one who keeps reading the name of the stadium as "Macarena"??? - then I get an earworm and do the dance in my head...)

NOpe..

Why are those dancers wearing pop=tarts???

[lecale]

I can't find a live feed and he won't watch on TV. help?

[Darth Penguin]

The Jamaican flag-bearer's hair is awesome

[Darth Penguin]

love the Polish women's skirts..

[Natalka]

I can't find a live feed and he won't watch on TV. help?

http://olympics.cbc.ca/