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Standard Sport6 August 2016

The wait is over. Let the Games begin!

The Games of the XXXI Olympiad, otherwise known as Rio 2016, will open with a bang tonight with an extravaganza at the Maracana.

A record number of countries will compete this month for the 306 sets of medals on offer, and their delegations with proudly wave their flags aloft in front of packed crowd in Rio de Janeiro.

Andy Murray was Team GB’s flag bearer this evening, and with Brazilian football legend Pele having withdrawn from his role of torch lighter at the games due to health concerns, the responsibility was left to Brazilian sporting legends, Gustavo Kuerten, Hortencia Marcari before Wanderlei Lima finally lit the Olympic cauldron marked the signal to the start of the games.

You can relive all of the action from the opening ceremony in the Maracana through our live blog below.

So sit back, and enjoy.

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Can’t see the live blog? Click here to access our desktop site.

So what’s on offer at this summer’s games? Here’s the breakdown!

Scroll over the graphic above for our pick of the action from Brazil this month.

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Over the next 16 days we'll be bringing you all the latest news, opinion and expert analysis from the Rio Games, and Matt Majendie is our man on the ground!

Read his preview of the games below.

 

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