Rio 2016 officially got underway with an four hour long Opening Ceremony ©Getty Images

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The environment was one of the central themes to the Ceremony ©Getty Images
The environment was one of the central themes to the Ceremony ©Getty Images


While there was also a focus on embracing diversity between cultures ©Getty Images
While there was also a focus on embracing diversity between cultures ©Getty Images



Pentathlete Yane Marques led the Brazilian team into the Maracanã ©Getty Images
Pentathlete Yane Marques led the Brazilian team into the Maracanã ©Getty Images


The Refugee team appeared at the Games for the first time in history ©Getty Images
The Refugee team appeared at the Games for the first time in history ©Getty Images
Kosovo and South Sudan also marked their Olympic Games debuts ©Getty Images
Kosovo and South Sudan also marked their Olympic Games debuts ©Getty Images
Carlos Nuzman declared that he was the
Carlos Nuzman declared that he was the "proudest man alive" during the Opening Ceremony speech ©Getty Images


The Olympic Rings were depicted in green to reiterate the Ceremony's focus on preserving the environment ©Getty Images
The Olympic Rings were depicted in green to reiterate the Ceremony's focus on preserving the environment ©Getty Images


Former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima lit the Olympic Cauldron ©Getty Images
Former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima lit the Olympic Cauldron ©Getty Images


The cauldron appeared in front of a huge sculpture designed to represent the sun ©Getty Images
The cauldron appeared in front of a huge sculpture designed to represent the sun ©Getty Images