The Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony: From beginning to end
No matter where the Olympic Games are held, they all begin with the Opening Ceremony. The event is a time for all countries and their athletes to come together and celebrate their nation’s flag in unison. The Ceremony is also the last stretch the Olympic torch must travel before the lighting of the cauldron, the ceremonial start to any Games.
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Maracaña Stadium during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremonies.
Fireworks are seen over Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
In this photo taken with slow shutter speed artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen walks onstage during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Performers dance during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Performers dance during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Performers hold ropes during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Performers dance during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Performers dance during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
An artist performs during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Sofia Bekatorou carries the flag of Greece during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Timo Boll carries the flag of Germany during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Flag bearers carry the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
The Olympic and Brazilian flag fly during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics Friday. AP/Matthias Schrader
AP Photo/Felipe Dana
AP Photo/Michael Sohn
Former Brazilian tennis player Gustavo Kuerten arrives with the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Vanderlei de Lima lights the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima holds up the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics AP/Michael Sohn
Vanderlei de Lima climbs a stair before lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei de Lima lights the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Fireworks explode over Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
AP/Felipe Dana
Fireworks are seen over Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Vanderlei de Lima lights the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
AP/Felipe Dana
Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima lights the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
