Rio 2016 organising committee president Carlos Nuzman was booed during his speech, as was President Michel Miguel Elias Temer of Brazil a short while later.
The South American country has been beset by political unrest and, just 24 hours earlier, former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff left her official residence for the last time following her impeachment and removal from office.
Nuzman did manage to finish his speech, which spoke of building a “new world, more accessible to all and with no obstacles“. Temer’s role was brief as he officially opened the Games and handed over to more performers.
Finally the flame was lit in driving rain and in front of a cheering crowd by influential official Marcia Malsar.
Sweet music to my ears…
Guess every country has its own political problems.