Contemporary · South America · Culture

2016

Rio Olympics open

August 5, 2016

Rio de Janeiro became the first South American city to host the Summer Games, against a backdrop of Zika virus, political turmoil, and unfinished construction. Usain Bolt completed his triple-triple. The opening ceremony was a love letter to Brazil's mongrel beauty, even as the country was tearing itself apart in the suites upstairs.

In context
Also in 2016 (7 other events on record)
Era

Contemporary (2001–2026), one of 196 events from that era on Saeculum.