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5 AugustAfter seven years of planning and preparation, the curtain was finally raised on the first Olympic Games to be held in South America, as Rio de Janeiro shared BrazilÕs carnival spirit with the world in a spectacular Opening Ceremony.Bossa nova beats and the strains of samba rang out from the cityÕs iconic Maracan‹ Stadium, as set pieces featuring more than 5,000 performers showcased the pulsating energy of Brazil, taking the enthralled audience on a visual journey through the countryÕs unique history.Performances by musical icons and up-and-coming stars helped turn the Maracan‹ into a huge dancefloor, while the stadium also doubled as a sprawling catwalk for supermodel Gisele BŸndchen, who sashayed across the stage to the famous refrain of Tom JobimÕs ÒThe Girl from IpanemaÓ.As well as a party atmosphere, the ceremony also featured a poignant environmental message and a warning about the dangers of man-made climate change. As each of the athletes from a record 207 teams marched into the stadium, they were asked to plant a seed that will grow to form an ÒAthletesÕ ForestÓ within Rio after the Games.It was Brazilian tennis legend Gustavo Kuerten who entered the stadium carrying the Olympic flame, before it was handed to Olympic bronze medal-winning marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima Ð who lit the cauldron to signal the start of the Games.A NEW WORLDRIO 201626 OLYMPIC REVIEW