RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) " Many top foreign leaders look like skipping the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, put off by Brazil's political turmoil and a stream of bad news engulfing South America's first games. The best that foreign leaders can do is to send a letter and stay home to avoid any embarrassment. First Lady Michelle Obama represented the U.S. at London's opening ceremony in 2012. The Brazilian foreign ministry declined to offer numbers, and said a list would be published just the before the games open. The French embassy in Brasilia confirmed that President Francois Hollande will attend the opening ceremony.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 14, 2016 16:30 UTC