Fans left to queue for hours but no signs of transport chaos
Assesses how the host city fared in four key areas on the opening weekend of the Games
The Olympics got off to a shambolic start yesterday, with fans queuing for hours to enter venues and some missing their events. Games organisers apologised for dropping the ball on the first day of full competition, which witnessed lines stretching for several blocks as angry fans stood in the scorching sun, waiting as security staff struggled. The chaos was mirrored at the opening ceremony, which began at the Maracana on Friday with a mass of empty seats. Mario Andrada, Rio 2016 director of communications, said: “First, we apologise to everybody who is standing in the sun and in line outside the venues. We obviously need to upgrade that part of the Games.” Andrada pledged to resolve the problem within two hours but that was too late for many ticket-holders. “I don’t believe it. It’s absurd, ridiculous,” said Rio resident Natalia Carvalho, 28, who had wanted to see Brazilian gymnast and medal hopeful Arthur Zanetti compete. Venues themselves passed the stress test, however, with no signs of the kind of structural problems that had plagued the build-up to the Games, which had included a jetty collapsing at the location for the sailing. The queues were largely to blame for the huge number of empty seats in virtually all venues, resulting in a flat atmosphere almost across the board. Only a few thousand made it into the gymnastics arena, which can seat 13,500, for what was meant to be the big draw of the day for the host nation. Those inside managed to make themselves heard as poster-boy Arthur Zanetti led a pumped-up Brazil team, with the loudest cheer reserved for a tearful Diego Hypolito after he made amends for falling flat on his face at London 2012. The boxing, handball and hockey venues suffered from sparse crowds and even one of Brazil’s favourite sports, beach volleyball, was poorly attended. The swimming pool was halfempty for the opening session but began to fill up and witnessed an extraordinary celebration when Brazilian swimmer Dayanara de Paula won her heat in the 100m butterfly. Fans also got right behind their women’s rugby sevens team, despite them losing 29-3 to Great Britain. But there was a stunned silence in the judo hall as defending champion Sarah Menezes lost. Disaster nearly struck when a bullet was fired into the media tent at the equestrian venue. It was thought to have come from an adjacent military base. A controlled explosion was carried out near the finish of cycling’s men’s road race as Brazil’s security operation came under scrutiny after it emerged at least three unauthorised drones had flown above the Maracana during the opening ceremony. Tanks had been on the streets of Rio, such was the concern about action from protesters or a terrorist attack. In a reminder of other dangers, spectators leaving the opening ceremony were confronted by the body of a man shot dead near the stadium. Eyewitnesses said that blood poured from the body onto the road as medics tended to the man next to an ambulance. Loud multiple gunshots were heard earlier by photographers, forcing Games volunteers and others leaving the ceremony to duck for cover behind vehicles. A shooter was seen running from the scene and fleeing in a car close to a university parking lot. There was no evidence of major transport chaos yesterday following the teething problems that plagued the opening ceremony. More than one bus heading to or back from the Maracana got lost, with one driver admitting he had only been recruited two days earlier. Games organisers denied the problem had been widespread, with Andrada saying: “We believe the transportation system passed the baptism of fire yesterday, taking people in and out of the ceremony.” Getting athletes and spectators to and from venues had been one of the big concerns in a city rated as one of the most congested in the world but there was no indication yesterday of competitors being stuck in traffic or of ticket-holders facing marathon journeys to events. With people arriving at different times, the real test was likely to be when they departed en masse, with even London 2012 having struggled at times to cope with the volume of human traffic leaving the Olympic Park at the end of each day.