That gave way to an exuberant, joyous party which encompassed Brazil's breathtakingly diverse musical and cultural traditions. RIO DE JANEIRO - A love letter to Brazil and a rallying cry to save the planet from environmental destruction launched the Olympic Games here Friday as Rio de Janeiro sought to forget its troubles for a night with a glittering opening carnival. An early opening sequence depicted the birth of life, culminating in the sprouting of a green entanglement of leaves from the stadium floor depicting the Amazon rainforest. The theme continued as the parade of more than 10,000 athletes from 207 teams across the globe got under way. "This will be our Olympic message: Earthlings, let's replant, let's save the planet!"

Source: Bangkok Post August 06, 2016 07:41 UTC