Massive security op for Olympic parade
A BEAMING Andy Murray led Team GB’s Olympic hopefuls into the Maracana as the 2016 Rio Games officially opened to great fanfare.
The British contingent received a rousing ovation on Friday night from the crowd in the cavernous stadium, where a flamboyant spectacle of sound and colour typical of a Brazilian carnival welcomed the 206 guest nations competing in the 31st summer games.
Murray, the defending Olympic champion and two-time Wimbledon winner, held the Union Jack aloft with his left arm – after appearing to struggle with the pole in practice – followed by gleeful Team GB members.
Speaking afterwards, the Scotsman said: “It was amazing to get to carry the flag and also be around the rest of the British team and chat to the guys. It’s been a really nice atmosphere and I’m obviously really proud to get the opportunity.
“My first thought was ‘don’t drop it’ and I was gripping onto the flag really tight. Then I was just trying to take it all in. The size of the stadium was incredible.”
Wearing red, white and blue, Team GB soaked up the electric atmosphere, with some taking the obligatory selfies while all waved to the crowds.
Chef de Mission Mark England said the occasion was “everything we hoped it would be – vibrant, colourful and energetic” and would give the team a boost ahead of the competition.
After a wave of terrorist attacks around the world, a massive security presence is in place in Rio, with a vast deployment of police and military personnel deployed around Olympic sites.
More than 80,000 police and security staff are being used in the city – double the amount used for the London Olympics in 2012.
Even as the opening ceremony got under way, bomb disposal teams were deployed to examine two suspicious bags near the beach volleyball arena on the Copacabana.
Explosives robots were brought in and the items were later deemed safe.
The alert came after thousands of anti-government protesters marched along the famous waterfront demonstrating in support of ousted president Dilma Rousseff.
The pre-ceremony protest followed ugly scenes on Thursday that marred the Olympic torch’s arrival in the Brazilian city.
Hundreds of people turned out to challenge the torch’s arrival in Rio – out of anger over the cost of hosting the event that began against a backdrop of civil and political unrest in the country.