Despite a troubled build-up, Rio 2016 Olympics opened seamlessly with a pared-down opening ceremony celebrating Brazil’s rich environment and culture.
Just days before, riots and gang violence erupted in a suburb outside the capital. Anti-government protestors blocked the path of the Olympic torch on Wednesday, with riot police using stun grenades and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The violence came a day after anti-torch protests in nearby towns and several days of gang violence in northern Brazil.
Around 85,000 police, soldiers and security personnel have been deployed in Rio – more than double the amount in London in 2012 – to deter both violent street crime and the threat of attacks by extremists.
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