The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have officially opened

The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have officially opened

The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil have officially opened with a colorful ceremony. All to the lively beat of samba, bossa nova and funk the celebration depicted  Brazil’s history and cultural diversity. Marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro lit the cauldron on Friday after an exuberant show of Brazilian cultural touchstones and breathtaking fireworks.

"Our admiration for you is even greater because you managed this at a very difficult time in Brazilian history," Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, told the country during the ceremony at the famous Maracana stadium, adding "We have always believed in you." Michel Temer, Brazil's interim president declared open The Games, the first ever to be held in South America.

Brazil’s economy is also in the middle of a deep recession and thereby kept spending on its Olympics in check. The tight budget for four-hour opening ceremony was reportedly about half of the $42m extravaganza in London four years back.

Spirits were high among the thousands of athletes, performers, fans and officials at the 78,000-capacity Maracana despite the resentful undercurrent, and protests against the Games just hours earlier. The firm determination of the creative minds behind the opening ceremony to put on a simple show that would not upset a country in dire economic difficulties, but would showcase the legendary upbeat nature of Brazilians.

"More than 70,000 people that were in the Maracana stadium and more than two dozen world leaders cheered all of the athletes, but there was really a touching moment when people took to their feet cheering on this refugee team competing for the first time in the Olympics."

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies.