Rio kicked off the first Olympic Games in South America with ceremony that stressed the importance of caring for the environment and its diversity

9 Incredible Moments From The Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony

Rio kicked off the first Olympic Games in South America with a ceremony that stressed the importance of caring for the environment and celebrated the country’s diversity.




Rio started off the 2016 Olympics with a truly ~Brazilian~ party Friday night. The opening ceremony was held at the legendary Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where Brazilian football great Pelé once showed off his amazing skills. And now, Brazilians have a new athletic moment to add to the stadium’s history: a winning opening ceremony.

The ceremony’s creative director, Fernando Mierelles, told the Daily Mail earlier this week that the festivities would be much smaller and cheaper than the opening ceremonies presented by London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008 (Rio’s cost 12 times less than London, and 20 times less than Beijing, to be exact). But Mierelles said the price tag wouldn’t limit the ceremony’s impact. “In the end, I feel good that I am not spending money that Brazil hasn’t got,” he told the Daily Mail. “You can do something with heart, with concept, without spending.”

And that’s exactly what he did. The ceremony told the history of Brazil, stressed the importance of caring for the environment, and celebrated the country’s diversity with bold visuals, flair, and artistry. Here, we relive the most incredible moments:
The visually stunning performance of Brazil’s history.
ShareShare

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

The Maracanã Stadium was outfitted with a projection screen on the floor, and boy did the Brazilians make use of it. The projector let them tell the story of their country, from the creation of water all the way up to present day. The performance acknowledged Brazil’s diverse origins, from its indigenous people to the effects of colonization, slavery, and immigration on its culture. The stadium floor transformed the ground into a rippling ocean, a lush rainforest, and even an aerial view of a bustling city. During the cityscape portion, dancers ran and flipped across the stadium floor, making it appear as if they were “jumping” from building to building.
Gisele Bündchen strutting down the runway for possibly the last time ever.
ShareShare

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

We knew Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen was slated to appear in the show, and she did not disappoint. The gorgeous model appeared on the stadium floor in a glittery, gold sequined dress. According to Vogue.com, the dress is by Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch and it took four months to make. As the famous Brazilian song “The Girl From Ipanema” played in the background, Bündchen strutted her stuff across the entire stadium floor, wearing a pair of impressively high heels, natch. The “runway” walk was about 500 feet long, and it’s reportedly the longest and the last catwalk she’ll walk—ever. She didn’t falter once, completely nailing it.
The bumping carnival scene that had us all partying at home.
ShareShare

Adrian Dennis / Getty Images

If there’s one thing Brazil knows how to do, it’s party. At one point in the ceremony, 1,500 dancers took to the stadium floor in amazingly colorful outfits and just, well, partied. Everyone in the audience, and this writer at home, couldn’t help but start groovin’, too. And Bündchen could be seen living her best life in the stands, dancing like no one (but the whole world) was watching.
The powerful warning about climate change.
ShareShare

Morry Gash / AFP / Getty Images

The Brazilians devoted an entire portion of the opening ceremony to raising awareness about climate change. A video warned of rising temperatures, melting ice, and the dangers rising sea levels pose to coastal cities around the world. An animation showed major cities like Amsterdam, Dubai, and even Rio disappearing under the expected rise in sea levels. In a voiceover, Dame Judi Dench read a moving poem during this portion. The Brazilians announced that each athlete at the Olympic games will receive a seed to be planted in an “Athletes Forest” in the country.
Michael Phelps’ proud moment leading Team USA into the stadium.
ShareShare

Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

While Rio is Michael Phelps’ fifth Olympics, the most decorated Olympian ever has never been able to march in an opening ceremony because of his swimming schedule. This year, however, Phelps not only was able to march, but he led Team USA—all 554 athletes—into the Maracanã Stadium. Phelps proudly carried the American flag, and he did it in style, too. Phelps’Ralph Lauren jacket lit up on the front and back, making him literally *glow* as he entered the stadium. Also spotted with Team USA: Serena Williams, with her fellow U.S. Tennis teammates Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Madison Keys, and Sloane Stephens.


The Refugee Olympic Athletes entering the stadium.
ShareShare

Paul Gilham / Getty Images

This year’s Olympics includes a new team: Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) created the ROA to accommodate athletes who have fled their homes because of political unrest. The 10 athletes on the team are from Syria, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia, but they’ll be competing under the Olympic flag. It was truly incredible to watch these athletes—who’ve had to leave their homes behind, yet still dedicated themselves to their sport—proudly enter the stadium. They received a much deserved standing ovation. During his speech later in the ceremonies, IOC president Thomas Bach told the refugees that they “bring a message of hope to others.”
The formation of the (green!) Olympic rings.
ShareShare

Francois-Xavier Marit / AFP / Getty Images

It’s always exciting to see how the host country will “form” the Olympic rings. In 2012 in London, the rings formed from five giant gold hoops floating in the air, erupting in fireworks. Rio took a greener approach to their ring formation, using it as another homage to the importance of the natural earth. Performers carried seed planter machines into the center of the stadium, which “sprouted” into the Olympic logo. Then, the plants erupted brilliantly with green confetti as fireworks lit up the sky above the stadium, forming the Olympic rings, too.
And, as always, the lighting of the Olympic flame.


ShareShare



Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Pelé was reportedly supposed to light the fame, but couldn’t because he was ill. The flame was carried into the stadium byGustavo Kuerten, the face of Brazilian tennis. He passed it off to Brazilian women’s basketball legend Hortencia Marcari, who ran it to Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, who lit the cauldron. de Lima is a Brazilian marathoner who became famous at the 2004 Athens games. He was leading in the men’s marathon until he was tackled unexpectedly by a spectator, which unfortunately caused him to finish in third place. At this year’s opening ceremony, it seems he had his moment to shine. de Lima lit a large, gold cauldron, which then rose up in front of an intricate mirrored sculpture of the sun that began to rotate. According to the Rio Olympics organizers, the cauldron is “intentionally small and low emission.” It purposefully doesn’t produce a big fire, symbolizing the need to reduce gas emissions and stop global warming.
And then it was party time again!
ShareShare

Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP / Getty Images

Fireworks erupted around the stadium, and the games had officially begun. Let the party continue!