After all the controversy involved in the lead-up, from drugs to sewage to Zika, it鈥檚 finally showtime in Brazil.
There will be no shortage of Island athletes, coaches and support staff on the floor of Maracana Stadium today for the opening ceremony of the 2016聽Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Victoria-area residents will be familiar with many of the faces because a large portion of sa国际传媒鈥檚 team lives and trains in the capital region.
But not everyone on the team will be marching in the parade of nations.
Several athletes with medal potential 鈥� including Victoria swimmer Ryan Cochrane, the Langford-based Canadian women鈥檚 rugby sevens team and the Elk Lake-based rowers 鈥� begin their competitions immediately on Saturday and can鈥檛 afford to expend the energy required to take part in the opening.
鈥淲e totally understand the decision not to march in the ceremony. We are totally focused on our games,鈥� said Canadian rugby player Ashley Steacy.
But the rugby players have found a way to still take part. They plan to dress up today in the full marching kit and greet the other Canadian athletes as they board the buses to Maracana Stadium.
鈥淭hen we鈥檒l go back to the village and watch the ceremony,鈥� Steacy said. 鈥淲e had a trial run last year in Toronto, when we also started playing on the first day of competition in the Pan Am Games.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 attend the opening聽ceremony, but did the same thing,聽by dressing up in the full marching gear and seeing off the other Canadian athletes who were headed to the opening at the聽Rogers Centre.鈥�
For many athletes, the opening ceremony is an opportunity not to be missed. Beach-volleyball player Jamie Broder of Victoria doesn鈥檛 begin competing until Sunday, so feels she has a little leeway. 鈥淚t is such a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience to march in an Olympic opening ceremony,鈥� said the Claremont Secondary graduate and Games debutante.
鈥淚 am aware of both sides of the argument. I will make a decision and am leaning toward yes. It will help fuel the passion.鈥�
Some athletes are not even in Rio yet, such as triathlete Kirsten Sweetland of Victoria, who does not compete until the day before the closing ceremony.
Is Rio ready? It really has no option but to be.
鈥淭hings are moving along, but just not at the pace most people expect for an event of this magnitude,鈥� said Rodd McCormick of Victoria, who is the聽sport presentation venue producer for synchronized swimming, diving and water polo at the Rio aquatics centre.
Meanwhile, public viewing areas for the opening ceremony today are being hosted in the lobby of the Bear Mountain Westin in Langford and at the Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria.
鈥淎ll nonsense aside, it鈥檚 now all about the athletes,鈥� said Rob Bettauer of Victoria, who will provide the CBC鈥檚 play-by-play call of the Olympics tennis tournament.
Opening ceremonies, 3:30 P.M., CBC, TSN
