Here’s Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, the Fastest Woman in the World

Thompson, 24, of Jamaica, claimed the mantle as the world’s fastest woman on Saturday night at Olympic Stadium, surging across the finish line in 10.71 seconds, comfortably ahead of her nearest opponents, to set off her vivid rainbow of emotions.
Thompson, 24, of Jamaica, claimed the mantle as the world’s fastest woman on Saturday night at Olympic Stadium, surging across the finish line in 10.71 seconds, comfortably ahead of her nearest opponents, to set off her vivid rainbow of emotions.

in RIO DE JANEIRO — A little smile appeared to form on Elaine Thompson’s face as she took her final steps across the finish line. Soon, it expanded into a look of full incredulity, her mouth agape. And seconds later, as she began to process that she had won the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter dash, she began hopping up and down on both feet, arms out at her sides.

By then, she looked a bit dazed.

Thompson, 24, of Jamaica, claimed the mantle as the world’s fastest woman on Saturday night at Olympic Stadium, surging across the finish line in 10.71 seconds, comfortably ahead of her nearest opponents, to set off her vivid rainbow of emotions.

“I didn’t quite know how to celebrate,” Thompson said.

Tori Bowie, 25, of Jackson, Miss., took the silver medal with a time of 10.83. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica fell short in her bid for a third straight Olympic gold in the race, finishing in 10.86 for the bronze. Minutes after the race, the three posed for photos, shoulder to shoulder. Thompson seemed to be holding back tears.

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Elaine Thompson, right, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica fell short in her bid for a third straight Olympic gold in the race, finishing in 10.86 for the bronze.

She said she was thinking about her friends and family back home who were watching her compete on a big screen. “I can’t imagine what is happening there right now,” Thompson said. Thompson had launched herself into the stratum of the Olympic favorites with a strong showing at the Jamaican national trials in July. She ran a 10.70 there, which remains the fastest time in the world this year.

In the same race, Fraser-Pryce, 29, who won gold in the event in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London, came across as vulnerable, running a 10.93 behind Thompson while battling a lingering foot injury. She said the pain on Saturday was still “really bad.”

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On Saturday night, Fraser-Pryce actually finished with the same time, to the hundredths of a second, a Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast. Officials reviewed finish-line footage from cameras that can capture thousands of frames per second to award Fraser-Pryce the bronze. “It has definitely been a very hard journey,” Fraser-Pryce said about her pain. “It’s part of athletics. It’s part of sports. It’s part of the story you tell. I was excited to have the opportunity to defend my title.”

Nigeria at Rio: Patriotism in an empty stomach

President Muhammadu Buhari in a group photo with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Sports and Youth Development Solomon Dalung, President of Nigerian Olympic Committee Habu Gumel and some national athletes prior to the RIO 2016 Olympic Games. These athletes had to compete under stress of empty pockets; and often rely on athletes from other countries for basic expenses.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a group photo with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Sports and Youth Development Solomon Dalung, President of Nigerian Olympic Committee Habu Gumel and some national athletes prior to the RIO 2016 Olympic Games. These athletes had to compete under stress of empty pockets; and often rely on athletes from other countries for basic expenses.
By Anthony Obi Ogbo
By Anthony Obi Ogbo

I have always emphasized the misapplication of the quote by a former United States president, John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, that Americans should ask not what their country could do for them, but ask what they could do for their country (January, 1961). This is because some failed leaders, especially in Africa, dwell on this phrase to manipulate citizens into love and service to their people without even providing them with basic necessities.

As a fact, President Kennedy was only energizing his populace by expressing the significance of patriotism and unyielding support for public service. He wasn’t preaching on how to love indolent leaders who terrorize their people, or how to fly our national flags without jobs, foods, roads, water, and worse, roof over our heads.

 In Nigeria, supposedly Africa’s giant, instances of dedicated athletes representing their country in global tournaments without basic allowances are a tradition and no longer make the headlines. Athletes have been made to pay their travel expenses in some cases as their own contribution to a country that is giving them an opportunity to travel abroad to showcase themselves. What a travesty.   

But the current 2016 Olympics Games is no exception.  Nigerian sports authorities had issued a memo asking their Olympics athletes to source their travel expenses. To save face, the ministry quickly reversed their decision after the memo made it to the social media and stirred public condemnation.

A terrible event soon emerged from Atlanta, Georgia where Nigeria’s Olympic soccer team was grounded because the sports ministry had not paid for their trip. To save face again, the sports ministry reportedly arranged another flight for the contingents. Another embarrassment event in   Brazil   exposed how the soccer team captain, Mikel John Obi paid about $4,000 to save the team from missing their flight to Salvador. Players and officials   were held up in Sao Paulo over hotel bills incurred by additional officials.

Yet  the team persevered after an excruciating journey to Brazil, less than six hours before its opening game. They endured these adversities; didn’t show any fatigue from their travel ordeal before their opening game, beating Japan 5-4 Thursday night. Nigeria also emerged their group leader, beating Sweden 1-0, and lost 0 – 2 to Colombia to qualify for the quarter finals.

Just as things got better for this team, another distraction struck once again. The players threatened to boycott their subsequent games over unpaid allowances. They complained that they have not received their outstanding allowances from their pre-Olympic training camp in Atlanta, as well as bonuses due for their group stage matches. The team’s coach Samson Siasia  backed his squad after they reportedly boycotted a training session ahead of their quarter-final with Denmark  today.

Siasia confirmed that the squad had only received allowances for 11 days, despite participating in months of training in both Nigeria and Atlanta prior to the tournament, and indicated that he would back the players if they decided to boycott their forthcoming match.

Besides the soccer team, other athletes representing Nigeria also go through similar ordeal. Ordinarily, athletes with oversea careers are less affected because they are well-off. But athletes living in Nigeria had to compete under stress of empty pockets; and often rely on athletes from other countries for basic expenses. What a shame!

Flying the national flag: Amidst a thread of atrocities, some Nigerians and indeed the agents of the regime are busy camouflaging the abuse of their Olympic contingents with songs of patriotism and diversity of a nation.
Flying the national flag: Amidst a thread of atrocities, some Nigerians and indeed the agents of the regime are busy camouflaging the abuse of their Olympic contingents with songs of patriotism and diversity of a nation.

Amidst these atrocities, some Nigerians and indeed the agents of the regime are busy camouflaging the abuse of their Olympic contingents with songs of   patriotism and diversity of a nation.   President Buhari, unconcerned about his battered athletes, applauded their patriotism and asked them to use the soccer team’s success over the Japanese as a source of inspiration for success. The President also vowed, prior to the game, that the Federal Government was fully committed to the contingents and would ensure that funds budgeted for the games would be released without delays. So where are the funds?

Let us call a spade a spade. Wearing national jerseys and flying the flags does not justify the love for ones country for these are the event routines. Currently, there are more than a thousand recruiters at the Olympics, scouting and signing up athletes from countries like Nigeria where sports persons have no future.

Are we yet to wonder why and how any good athlete in Nigeria ends up in Europe or America? These days they migrate to Asia and Middle East to seek better careers and more so, respect for their talents. As author and philosopher, Mark Twain, noted, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” Regrettably, ordeal of these athletes are a proof that the Nigerian government do not deserve any loyalty from a population they horribly exploit. Poet, William Cowper was absolutely right, “No man can be a patriot on an empty stomach.”

♦ Author, Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D. is the publisher of Houston-based  International Guardian.

Egyptian judoka jeered in Rio after Israeli handshake snub

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby was jeered out of the Olympic arena in Rio on Friday after refusing to shake hands with his Israeli opponent.

El Shehaby was beaten by Or Sasson in their heavyweight first round encounter but at the end of the bout, he refused to either bow to the Israeli or shake his hand. In judo it is customary to both bow to opponents — a sign of respect in Japan — and shake hands after a bout is over. El Shehaby had been well beaten but stood impassively as Sasson tried to shake his hand. As he left the mat area, El Shehaby was called back to the centre by the referee to bow.

But he was then loudly jeered out of the arena by angry supporters. Egyptian IOC president Hisham Hatab blamed media pressure for El Shehaby’s reaction. “The fighter hesitated between competing or withdrawing, that’s why he was nervous,” Hatab told AFP. “Egyptian media pressure was huge on him before the bout. “People were waiting to see if would fight or not. We tried to relax him but we couldn’t.”

The Egyptian IOC had told El Shehaby to fight “with a sporting spirit” and ignore the media pressure. “We said previously that he wouldn’t withdraw but we let him decide. “Not shaking hands was his personal decision.”

– ‘Big improvement’ –

International Judo Federation spokesman Nicolas Messner said fighters were not obliged to shake hands after a bout. “In the past, it is not sure that a fight between those two athletes would have taken place. This is already a big improvement that Arabic countries accept to be opposed to Israel,” he said. “There is no obligation for shaking hands at the end of the fight, but it is compulsory to bow, that’s why the Egyptian was called back to bow and he did. “Nevertheless, his attitude will be reviewed after the Games to see if any further action should be taken.”

The 32-year-old El Shehaby, a world championship medallist in 2010, had faced pressure on social media and from hardline Islamist groups in his homeland to withdraw from the fight. He refused to speak to journalists after his fight. Unlike some other Muslim and Arab nations, Egypt has no history of withdrawing from judo bouts against Israelis. Sasson has faced another Egyptian, Ahmed Wahid, twice in the last year, each fighter winning once.

The Egyptian Olympic Committee had insisted before the fight that El Shehaby would compete.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabian Joud Fahmy withdrew from her 52kg first round bout against Christianne Legentil of Mauritius ahead of a possible second round clash with Gili Cohen of Israel.

The Saudi Olympic Committee claimed she was injured. Most famously in the Olympic dojo, then-world champion Arash Miresmaeili pulled out of the competition after failing to make the 66kg weight limit after being drawn against Israeli Ehud Vaks in the first round. The Iranian delegation claimed he was ill and could not make the weight, although an inside source said he had failed the weight by more than 5kg — an incredible amount. Back home in Iran he was feted for his personal “sacrifice” and award the same prize as gold medallists.

Iran openly refuses to allow its citizens any contact with Israelis.

Iranian Javad Mahjoub pulled out of a fight with Sasson at the Tashkent World Cup in 2011. A year later Mahjoub also withdrew from the London Olympics with a “gut infection” before the draw was even made — Israeli Ariel Ze’evi was one of the favourites for gold in his weight division, the under-100kg

Rio Disgrace – Nigeria’s Soccer Team Threatens Olympic Boycott Over ‘Unpaid Allowances’

“Siasia claimed that the squad had only received allowances for 11 days, despite participating in months of training in both Nigeria and Atlanta prior to the tournament, and indicated that he would back the players if they decided to boycott their forthcoming match.”

Just when things were looking up for Nigeria’s Olympic football team, discord has struck once again.

The team’s coach Samson Siasia has backed his squad after they reportedly boycotted a training session ahead of their quarter-final with Denmark on Saturday. The players have not received outstanding allowances from their pre-Olympic training camp in Atlanta, as well as bonuses due for their group stage matches, according to the BBC.

“We have been disrespected from all angles—the sports ministry, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),” said Siasia in a Friday interview with Lagos-based sports radio station Brila FM, Nigeria’s Today reported.

Siasia claimed that the squad had only received allowances for 11 days, despite participating in months of training in both Nigeria and Atlanta prior to the tournament, and indicated that he would back the players if they decided to boycott their forthcoming match. “Everything is upside down and the boys don’t want to play anymore. Whatever they want to do, I’m with them. They are right for fighting for their rights,” said Siasia.

Nigerian sports minister Solomon Dalung told Newsweek from Rio de Janeiro on Friday that all Nigerian athletes had been paid allowances up to August 14, and would receive a further payment after this date. (According to a statement by Dalung on Tuesday, the allowances totaled around $1,650 per player.) Dalung says that the NFF were investigating the matter of Siasia’s unpaid salary but criticized the coach for raising the issue ahead of such an important game. “The coach is not fair to Nigeria,” says Dalung. “For him to agree to take the team [to Rio] and raise the issue of his salary at this point is not fair, not only [not] fair to the country but not fair to the players themselves. So I think he needs to have a second reflection on the issue.”

The Super Eagles’s preparations for the tournament were thrown into disarray when the Nigerian government was forced to charter a plane to take the team from Atlanta to Manaus after they failed to secure alternative airline tickets in time. Their arrival was further delayed when the provided plane turned out to be too small. The players arrived just hours before their opening match in Manaus on August 4, which they went on to win 5-4.

Nigeria became the first team—and the only African nation—to qualify for the quarter-finals by beating Sweden 1-0 on Sunday, before losing 0-2 to Colombia in a dead rubber. The current outfit have been dubbed Dream Team VI, a reference to Nigeria’s winning team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Nigerian sports minister Solomon Dalung said on Tuesday that the ministry had paid each player an allowance of around $1,650 for the first 11 days of their training camp. Dalung said that the players and staff had been paid upfront “to keep them focused and well-motivated.”

The NFF’s General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi issued a statement on Thursday, denying media reports that the federation had requested that players give back their jerseys after the competition. But Siasia claimed that this was the case, saying that the NFF had ordered they be returned.

Rio shocker – Serena Williams ousted at Olympics in third round

Williams lost 6-4, 6-3 to Svitolina, who is ranked 20th in the world.
Williams lost 6-4, 6-3 to Svitolina, who is ranked 20th in the world.

Serena Williams has now been eliminated in both singles and doubles. Top-seeded Serena Williams lost in straight sets to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the third round of the singles tournament at the 2016 Olympics on Tuesday.

Williams lost 6-4, 6-3 to Svitolina, who is ranked 20th in the world.

Williams was looking to become the first female tennis player to win two gold medals in singles at the Olympics. She won gold in both singles and doubles at the 2012 Olympics in Beijing.

Serena is now out of the Olympics altogether, after also losing in the first round in doubles alongside her sister Venus Williams.

The sisters won gold in doubles in 2000, 2008 and 2012, and had never before lost a doubles match in Olympic play, but went down 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.

Venus also lost in the first round in singles, meaning both Williams sisters are done in Rio. Venus fell to 62nd-ranked Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium after coming down with an illness before the games began.

The sisters entered the 2016 Summer Games tied for most career gold medals among women’s tennis players with four. Neither was able to add to that total at what could be their final Olympics.

Serena and Venus Williams lose first-ever Olympic doubles match

Not all is lost for the Williams family, as Serena Williams still has the singles tournament to look forward to. The 2012 gold medalist and world No. 1 won her first-round match earlier Sunday and will play France’s Alize Cornet Monday.
Not all is lost for the Williams family, as Serena Williams still has the singles tournament to look forward to. The 2012 gold medalist and world No. 1 won her first-round match earlier Sunday and will play France’s Alize Cornet Monday.

Serena and Venus Williams were shocked in the first round of doubles play at the 2016 Olympics.

Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic defeated the reigning and three-time Olympic champions in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 Sunday. The loss was the Williams‘ sisters first-ever doubles loss in Olympic play.

“It was what it was,” Serena Williams said in a post-match press conference. “We have a chance to compete for our country and did the best that we can. We had a blast out there.

“I wouldn’t say it was devastating. It was a lot of fun and we will always remember these moments and these matches. At the end of the day, I think that’s what matters most.”

Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic defeated the reigning and three-time Olympic champions in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 Sunday. The loss was the Williams sisters first-ever doubles loss in Olympic play.
Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic defeated the reigning and three-time Olympic champions in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 Sunday. The loss was the Williams sisters first-ever doubles loss in Olympic play.

There were questions as to whether Venus would even take the court Sunday after the 36-year-old looked less than herself Saturday in a loss to open up singles play. The elder Williams is reportedly suffering from a virus that she caught at the end of a WTA tournament in Montreal last week.

“It was not our best day,” Venus Williams said in the post-match press conference. “We like to have a chance to play our way into the tournament. But we came up against a very strong team. We wish them the best of luck and we’ll get ready for the US Open.”

Not all is lost for the Williams family, as Serena Williams still has the singles tournament to look forward to. The 2012 gold medalist and world No. 1 won her first-round match earlier Sunday and will play France’s Alize Cornet Monday.

2016 Rio Olympics, women’s soccer: Sweden beats South Africa, 1-0

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Sweden’s women beat South Africa, 1-0, in a drab group-stage game Wednesday in front of a sparse crowd of only a couple of thousand spectators in Rio de Janeiro. It was settled by veteran defender Nilla Fischer opening her third Olympics by scoring in the 75th minute.

The Olympic Stadium should be far fuller and more boisterous later in the day when the hosts are in action. Brazil’s women begin their quest for a first Olympic soccer title against China, a day before the men’s team opens against South Africa in the capital Brasilia.

Organizers will be hoping the 14 soccer games being played over Wednesday and Thursday will see excitement build ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium, which hosted the World Cup final two years ago.

Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics – Spectacular moments – remarkable images

Director Fernando Mereilles and his team delivered a sobering call to address global warming and deforestation cloaked in a stirring multicultural celebration of tolerance.

The 31st Olympiad kicked off under such a cloud of controversy and anxiety that it threatened to overshadow the festivities. Terrorism has the world on edge; the Zika virus prompted numerous international competitors and commentators to bow out; the Russian doping scandal seriously depleted the numbers of one of the Games’ traditional heavyweights; an outbreak of crime in host city Rio de Janeiro and the risks of swimming in polluted waters set off alarm bells; and political scandal — with a former president embroiled in a corruption case and a successor in the midst of an impeachment trial — has elevated an unpopular interim leader. Happy times.

Add to that a country in the midst of its worst economic recession since the 1930s and a city in which sun-drenched luxury exists side by side with extreme poverty. It was a given that director Fernando Mereilles, whose 2002 breakthrough film City of God was a visceral portrait of life in the crime-plagued Rio slums, was never going to ignore that reality. But the opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium married solemn social commentary with joyous spectacle, combining a stripped-down national history with a determinedly hopeful acknowledgment of the challenges of the future — facing not only Brazil but the planet as a whole.

A fireworks spectacle kicks off the 2016 Rio Olympic Games opening ceremony at the Maracana soccer stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A fireworks spectacle kicks off the 2016 Rio Olympic Games opening ceremony at the Maracana soccer stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Performers dance during a light show at the opening ceremony.
Performers dance during a light show at the opening ceremony.
Fireworks set off during an opening ceremony performance at Maracana Stadium.
Fireworks set off during an opening ceremony performance at Maracana Stadium.

Mereilles made it known in advance that the Rio opener would be a radical departure from recent Summer Olympics. Zhang Yimou delivered synchronized pageantry on a grandiose scale in Beijing, while Danny Boyle infused dazzling stagecraft with eccentric British humor in London. But in deference to this being the first Olympiad held in South America, Mereilles promised a show assembled for just a fraction of London’s $42 million price tag. That meant an emphasis on low-tech performance, physical theater and emissions-conscious pyrotechnics. The result was a refreshingly analogue opening defined by its rich humanity, exuberant warmth and its spirit of indefatigable resilience.

Sure, there were brief flashes of sleek celebrity glamour, such as Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen looking “tall and tan and young and lovely” as she strode onto the pitch while the crowd sang along to “The Girl From Ipanema.” But from the breathtaking aerial shots of Brazilian beaches, cities and forests that served as a prologue, elegantly intercut with sports images, to the propulsive samba beat that made the marathon Parade of Nations into an exhilarating global party, this was a love letter from the host country to its people and to the 205 nations being welcomed to its shores.

The key word was gambiarra, a local term that means improvising something special out of difficult circumstances, of doing more with less. The Rio opener was an emotionally impactful demonstration of that feat, its spirit more akin to the infectious triumph and shared pleasure that usually accompany Olympics closing ceremonies. Youthful energy, optimism and inclusiveness banished cynicism, corruption and anxiety, and in these divisive times, it was a beautiful thing to witness.

Dancers clad in metallic capes conducted a countdown to the strains of a gentle bossa nova beat as Brazil’s prehistory unfolded, with sea creatures crawling onto land that turned into forest. In a sequence titled Pindorama: The Birth of Life, a sinuous human canvas erupted, with 72 indigenous dancers weaving giant ocas, or native huts, out of veils of corded fabric.

Next came the European settlers on boats, followed by the arrival of African slaves, their wheels and sticks representing plows, and the weights on their feet evoking shackles. Roads divided the jungle as natural paradise made way for agriculture and urban development. And in a nation with 305 different ethnic groups, waves of immigration were acknowledged, from Syrians and Lebanese carrying suitcases on their heads to red-robed Japanese carving a tidy trail of sand gardens in their wake. The attention to detail was incredible.

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen struts down the stadium catwalk during the opening ceremony.
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen struts down the stadium catwalk during the opening ceremony.

While digital technology was used in moderation, it was most effective in conjuring the growth of cities that sprouted as parkour athletes bounded over simulated rooftops and scaled walls. In one of the more perplexing elements, they then plucked large white boxes from the buildings, passing them down to the ground in what appeared oddly to be a tribute to breaking and entering. But that image then yielded a wonderful salute to pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, regarded by Brazilians as the father of the manned flight, with a very pretty glide through the night skies above Rio.

If a mild criticism can be lobbed at one key component, the jump through the country’s rich musical history felt somewhat abrupt, leaping from Antonio Carlos Jobim to a fairly generic mishmash of electronica and hip-hop. However, the tendency to favor lighting wizardry over digital projections was especially impressive here as a multi-culti dance party broke out to “Pais Tropical.”

In arguably the boldest stroke of the night, at a time when half the world remains in obtuse denial about the grim toll of climate change, the ceremony then introduced a powerful filmed segment on global warming. Judi Dench and Fernanda Montenegro read a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade that addressed the natural environment; the sequence allowed Brazil to acknowledge its own role in raping the planet while at the same time sending out an urgent call for sustainable living and reforestation. The political theme then continued with a plea to the world to seek out our similarities and celebrate our differences.

That note then ushered in one of the Rio opener’s most unexpected triumphs. The Parade of Nations is often one of the more ho-hum parts of the Olympics kickoff, an endurance test that provides windows for coffee or cocktail breaks — depending on what part of the world you’re in — while armies of athletes file into the arena shooting selfie videos. However, this time that procession became a living hymn to global harmony.

Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic team during the parade of nations.
Flag bearer Michael Phelps and Ibtihaj Muhammad lead the U.S. Olympic team during the parade of nations.

Each national team was preceded by a colorful tricycle laden with pot plants, watering cans and such, manned by male and female riders of such stunning beauty and mega-watt smiles that they could populate their own modeling agency. The flag-bearer for each team was flanked by a child, a number of them in wheelchairs, bearing a young plant, its new foliage swaying to the infectious samba rhythms that underscored the parade. The athletes were followed by groups of percussionists in vibrant colors.

The Nigerian Olympic team during the parade of nations.
The Nigerian Olympic team during the parade of nations.

Even if there were inevitable distractions — such as the ugliness of the Swedish uniforms, or the heavy dousing of body oil on the Tonga team leader, making him an instant viral sensation on gay chat sites — the overall effect was one of sheer uncontainable jubilation that recognized no national boundaries. Aside from the home team, who shimmied out to the sound of — what else? — the 1943 Xavier Cugat hit “Brazil,” the biggest cheer and warmest standing ovation went to the refugee team of ten athletes driven from their homelands. As a reflection of our brutally divided contemporary world, the moment spoke profoundly moving volumes.

Members of the South African team wave their country's flag as they enter the stadium
Members of the South African team wave their country’s flag as they enter the stadium
The Brazil Olympic team take part in the opening ceremony.
The Brazil Olympic team take part in the opening ceremony.

All this unfolded against a stylized backdrop depicting the Rio favelas, its jumble of dwelling upon dwelling providing platforms for dancers and musicians as well as screens for kaleidoscopic projections of changing colors and radiant faces. By acknowledging the poverty that is an undeniable part of the city’s social fabric, Mereilles made this an opening for the entire population, rich and poor. The seductive voices of contemporary singing star Anitta flanked by beloved veterans Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso also helped it span the generations.

The reforestation theme continued as the national teams reached the center of the field, each athlete planting an individual seed in large metal towers. Those structures were then spun by dancers, reflecting the crowd in their mirrored sides before forming into the iconic Olympic ring symbol and then bursting into verdant life. Just gorgeous. Those seeds will eventually be replanted to create “The Athletes’ Forest.”

The inevitable fireworks followed, but the emotional surge behind those sparks was something quite unlike other Olympics ceremonies, carried through to the lighting of the cauldron, which ascended to mobilize a stunning rotating gold helix. As the cameras pulled back to take in the fireworks from the elevated vantage point of the city’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue, it was impossible not to conclude that Brazil, at least for tonight, had erased the world’s woes. Now what are they going to do as a closing act?

From plane to pitch – How Nigeria soccer team won Olympic opener

The Nigerian men’s soccer team didn’t show any fatigue from a last-minute trip that brought the players to Brazil just hours before their Rio Olympics opener, beating Japan 5-4 Thursday night.

A mix-up at the airport forced Nigeria to make a late flight from Atlanta to Brazil. The team arrived in the jungle city of Manaus about six hours before overcoming jet lag and the heat and humidity in the Amazon city to win a thrilling game.

The team faced the uncomfortable situation of spending the day of its debut at the Olympics aboard an airplane on a more than six-hour flight and facing a Japan team that was in Brazil for several days preparing for the contest.

There are conflicting reports about how the team ended up in this position.

Bunmi Jinadu, founder of United Soccer Africa, disputed reports that the team missed its original flight because of a money issue between the Nigerian government and a charter company. Delta Air Lines cited a “communications mix-up” that grounded the team’s original Friday flight.

Jinadu said the problem stemmed from poor planning and coordination on the part of the Nigerian team in leaving Atlanta, where it has been training to prepare for the games. He said the team had assumed it could simply buy plane tickets to Rio at the last minute — just like Nigerians do in their home country to book travel.

They then encountered a crush of travelers and lack of flights at the busy Atlanta airport, where several Brazil-bound trips were originating. The team thought it had a backup plan on Wednesday, but the plane wasn’t big enough to accommodate the team, Jinadu said.

The flight the team finally boarded was on a chartered Delta jet. A spokesperson for Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines said it stepped in to help the team get to its destination — free of charge — after learning of the flight issue.

The plane normally is used to transport NBA teams, and the same aircraft will fly the U.S. men’s basketball team back to the U.S. after the Olympics.

Atlanta was the site of Nigeria’s greatest soccer triumph as it won the gold medal there in the 1996 Olympics.

“This came to our attention on the 20th anniversary of the Nigerian football team’s win at the Atlanta games,” said Delta spokesperson Betsy Talton. “Everyone was happy to help them with another miracle by getting them to Manaus.”

Jinadu said the mood remained upbeat among the players as they headed to Brazil at the last minute.

“Nigeria has tough skin,” he said. “All the players playing on this team know this is their livelihood and they have been overly anxious to get to Rio.”

It’s not the first time an African soccer team had to make a last-minute flight for a high-profile match in Brazil.

In 2014, Cameroon’s World Cup team refused to board a plane to take them to Brazil because of a dispute over bonus payments for the tournament. Their national soccer federation took out a loan to meet their demands, and the team caught a later flight

Venus Williams loses in first round of Olympic tennis singles tournament

The Rio de Janeiro Olympics have barely started, and already we have a shocking early exit from an American.

Venus Williams lost her first match in the singles tennis tournament to 62nd-ranked Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in three sets, despite leading 4-1 in the third set.

The fifth-seeded Williams also was serving for the match, up 5-3 in the third, but she lost the next three games to fall to the brink of defeat. Williams then broke Flipkens to get back to 6-6 and force a tiebreak.

The tiebreak also featured another Venus comeback. Down 4-1, she fought back to tie things at 5 but lost two consecutive points to drop the match.

According to Stephanie Myles, Williams was sick and did not talk to the press after the match. Venus hasn’t crashed out of the Olympics altogether, though. She and her sister, Serena Williams, are gold medal favorites in the doubles tournament, which begins Sunday. They face off against Czech Republic duo Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova at approximately 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

Serena also plays her first-round singles match Sunday at around 11:15 a.m. against Daria Gavrilova of Australia.

Venus and Serena are tied for the Olympic record for career gold medals, with four each. Venus’ first two came at Sydney 2000, when she won both the singles tournament and the doubles tournament alongside Serena. The Williams sisters also won gold in the doubles tournament in 2008 and 2012. Serena won the singles tournament in 2012 in London.

Serena, 34, is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, while Venus, 36, sits at No. 6.

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