Skip to main content
Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

This story is free to read.

The Latest: Samba, baby! Rio to open Summer Olympic Games

A man climbs on the Olympic rings near the basketball venue in the Olympic park on th eve before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A man climbs on the Olympic rings near the basketball venue in the Olympic park on th eve before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) A man climbs on the Olympic rings near the basketball venue in the Olympic park on th eve before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – The Latest on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (all times local):

6 a.m.

There’s going to be no shortage of samba, culture or diversity in the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics as Brazil proudly showcases its traditions and environmental wonders.

Millions of television viewers from around the world are expected to watch the three-hour ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on Friday night, which comes as the country is reeling from political and economic turmoil.

Organizers are making sure that global warming and the environment, especially the country’s magnificent Amazon rainforest, are important parts of the ceremony.

In all, 4,800 performers and volunteers will be involved in the show at Rio’s Maracana stadium. NBC will broadcast the opening ceremony on a one-hour tape delay because it wants the extravaganza to be shown completely in U.S. prime time.

Samba and pop music singers are expected to perform, including Grammy award winners Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen will also be on hand to promote her native Brazil.