There weren't the history of Athens, the special effects of Beijing, the magnificence of London, but the opening ceremony of the Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games will be remembered for the warmth, human and atmospheric, and the colors of a Maracana celebrating, ready to celebrate the most important sporting event in the world.
No crisis, recession or political scandals, yesterday it was the Brazilian spirit that triumphed, made up of music, gaudy colors and beauty (Gisele Bundchen's fashion show enchanted men and women).
Pele wasn't there to light the Olympic brazier, blocked by health problems. In its place marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima. A name that far from Latin America says little or nothing to most. Then a scene from twelve years ago, the 2004 Olympics, comes to mind. De Lima is on his way to winning the gold medal. Suddenly an Irish preacher comes out of the audience and knocks him down. Eventually a bronze will arrive that he still knows today as a joke.
After receiving the torch from the hands of former tennis player Guga Kuerten, the marathon runner lit the flame, illuminating the Maracana with the Olympic fire. The meaning is clear: a compensation for what happened in the past, a rebirth. Just like the one who hopes to experience Brazil.
The delegations, the independent athletes, the refugees parade. The standard-bearers attract everyone's attention: Phelps for the USA, Nadal for Spain, Pellegrini for Italy, Murray for Great Britain, Fraser for Jamaica. Bolt, surprisingly and mysteriously, isn't there.
“There is no better place on earth right now,” says the president of the organizing committee. THE Games have officially begun, now it's the sport's turn.
OLYMPICS: THE PROGRAM FOR SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST
14.30 ROAD CYCLING – Road race (men)
15.30 SHOOTING – 10m air rifle, final (women)
20.30 SHOOTING – 10m compressed air pistol, final (men)
21.39 ARCHERY – Team competition, finals (men)
21.40 JUDO – 48kg (female): finals
21.40 JUDO – 60kg (male): finals
22.15 FENCING – Epee, individual test (female): finals
00.00 WEIGHT LIFTING – 48kg (female)
03.03 SWIMMING – 400m medley, final (men)
03.30 SWIMMING – 400m freestyle, final (men)
03.49 SWIMMING – 400m medley, final (women)
04.24 SWIMMING – 4x100m freestyle, final (women)
THE OLYMPICS ON TV
The Rio 2016 races will be broadcast on TV by both Sky and Raisport. Subscribers to satellite TV will be able to follow the Games, in an abridged version, on the thematic channel dedicated to them. State television, on the other hand, will dedicate three channels to the 2016 Olympics. Athletics, gymnastics, swimming, boxing, fencing and diving will be visible on RaiSport 1. RaiSport 2 will broadcast: basketball, beach volleyball, soccer, volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo and rugby. All the other sports will be visible, in rotation, on the other channels. Rai will also make its website available, raisport.rai.it, to watch all the races in streaming.
