Rio Olympics 2016: Josip Pavić Leads Out Croatia at Opening Ceremony

The 31st Olympic Games got underway in Rio with a 4-hour opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium in Brazil…

The opening ceremony was a journey through Brazil’s history and culture, and an environmental message for the world, in a humble opening ceremony. The ceremony culminated with the Olympic cauldron being lit by 47-year-old marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima after acting Brazil President Michel Temer had formally opened the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen strutted through the iconic arena as the song-immortalized Girl from Ipanema, Paulinho Da Viola performed an unplugged version of Brazil’s national anthem with a small string orchestra, and hundreds of dancers performed to samba, funk and rap tunes, with the famous samba schools also a late part of the show.

The 50,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers witnessed evolution and Brazilian history from the beginning of life, but also a section on environmental protection narrated in part by award-winning actress Judi Dench and Brazil theatre icon Fernanda Montenegro.

Croatia were the 55th country to parade around the stadium in the early hours of Saturday morning Croatian time. Croatia was led by flag bearer Josip Pavić.

Croatians in action at Rio today:

[CYCLING] Kristijan Đurasek & Matija Kvasina – 14:30
[BOXING] Hrvoje Sep – 17:45
[GYMNASTICS] Filip Ude – 23:30
[SWIMMING] Matea Samardžić – 19:38
[SHOOTING] Snježana Pejčić & Valentina Gustin – 13:30
[TENNIS] Ana Konjuh – Beck – 16:00, Marin Čilić – Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Ćorić – Gilles Simon, Marin Čilić/Marin Draganja – Novak Đoković/Nenad Zimonjić
[WATER POLO] USA – Croatia – 15:20
[ROWING] Damir Martin – 14:20, Valent & Martin Sinković – 16:50

(photo credits: HINA)