And so it begins…
As will be the case with a lot of events during the 2016 Rio Olympics, the opening ceremony took place at a fairly unsociable hour, so many of you may have been in dreamland when the XXXI Olympiad began with a bang.
For some observers, the opening ceremony takes on a greater significance than the events themselves, perhaps not a huge surprise when considering that it is watched by an audience of hundreds of millions worldwide.
Over 11,000 athletes from 205 nations came together for the opening ceremony in the Maracana Stadium, including Team Ireland, with captain Paddy Barnes waving the tricolour amidst of sea of smiling faces.
What an unbelievably proud moment for everyone involved.
#TeamIreland ready to make their big entrance at the #OpeningCeremony 🇮🇪😁 pic.twitter.com/l8mK0u7myQ
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 6, 2016
We have arrived! #TeamIreland #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/ZEFrcbOaQs
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 6, 2016
No wonder they were all smiling; the team had got in the mood for the ceremony with some samba dancing shortly before it all kicked off…
#TeamIreland warming up samba style for #OpeningCeremony 😂 pic.twitter.com/wbl75dDgE5
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 5, 2016
That aside, there were lights, fireworks and a host of other unexplained paraphernalia that certainly looked impressive; overall, a good start to what will hopefully be a smashing few weeks.
Boom! @Rio2016 #olympics #openingceremony pic.twitter.com/0pG6h96Hy8
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 5, 2016
WATCH Fire works at Maracana as the opening ceremony begins in Rio de Janeiro #OpeningCeremony #Rio2016https://t.co/yNUW2sIJdt
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2016
All of the lights. #Rio2016
(via @TODAYshow) pic.twitter.com/qsEOSOc7hC
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2016
Oooo! Look at this view from above #OpeningCeremony #rio2016 #olympics 😍👇👏 pic.twitter.com/hXGnA3UVdU
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/efellingham/status/761702231292993536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/CANOCBroadcast/status/761771009980534784
https://twitter.com/TelegramJames/status/761757361337995265
"@Matthew_Morris: Cool Olympic flame. pic.twitter.com/jn2UeUj0Ie" it's not lit until #NBCfail says it's lit.
— peter wilt (@PeterWilt1) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/Rio2016_en/status/761788278223712257
https://twitter.com/Rio2016_en/status/761786032027152384
https://twitter.com/Rio2016_en/status/761798983916351488
