Rio de Janeiro ¨C Rio de Janeiro opened South America¡¯s first-ever Olympic Games on Friday with a pared-down ceremony that put the environment to the forefront and celebrated Brazil¡¯s rich and diverse culture.
Hampered by budget cuts enforced by an economic crisis gripping the world¡¯s fifth-biggest country, Rio eschewed the high-end production of previous opening ceremonies yet still managed to delight a packed crowd of 78,000 at Maracana Stadium with a carnival of lights, music and dancing.
¡°With the Olympic Games as a catalyst, you have achieved in just seven years what generations before you could only dream of,¡± said International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. ¡°You have transformed the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro into a modern metropolis and made it even more beautiful.¡±
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