The Rio Games launched with a flamboyant spectacle headlined by supermodel Gisele Bundchen on August 5 as a doom-laden Olympic build-up gave way to an energetic party atmosphere at the fabled Maracana stadium.
2016 Rio Olympic Theme: Peace and Environment
- Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are headlining a show that’s heavy on samba drums and dancing, highlighting Brazil’s history and heritage. And the Parade of Nations kicked off with 207 delegations following their flag-bearers into Rio’s venerable Maracanã Stadium.
- Marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro lit the cauldron after an exuberant show of Brazilian cultural touchstones and breathtaking pyrotechnics — and a compulsory burst of samba.
- With the Olympic flame lit, a gleaming fan sculpture wafts the wind toward it in hypnotic waves by the American artist Anthony Howe.
- Brazilian singer Paulinho da Viola sang the national anthem to set off the show of laser lights and elaborate dances highlighting Brazil’s history and rise as an emerging power.
- It is noted that more than 10,000 athletes from 207 teams took part, with the biggest cheers reserved for the specially formed refugee team and the joyous Brazilian contingent.
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Indian Railways announces cash awards for its athlete who wins medal at Rio Olympics
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabu announced an Rs 1 crore cash award for Indian athlete who wins a gold medal in the Rio Olympics. In total, 35 athletes from Indian Railways will take part in the Rio Olympic.
The complete reward list by the Indian Railways as follows,
- The gold Medalist – 1 crore
- The silver medallist – Rs 75 lakh
- Bronze winner – Rs 50 lakh.
- Athletes who manages a top-8 finish – Rs 30 lakh
- For mere participation Rs 5 lakh.
Railways has put in promoting and supporting sports in India through its share of 35 players and 6 Coaches from Indian Railway in Rio Olympics.
- It is noted that Shri Suresh Prabhu also announced a bunch of incentives for the Railway players viz promotions ,increments and cash awards. This includes promotions as Gazzetted officers for players getting upto 4th position; Out of turn promotions and special increments to the Railway athletes representing India in Rio.
- It is noted that the women’s hockey team is almost entirely comprised of Railways players as is the weightlifting team. While the Railways teams almost always dominate in National events too.
IOA announces cash award of 50 lakh rupees for gold medal winning athlete in Rio Olympics
The Indian Olympic Association announced an Rs 50 lakh cash award for the gold medal-winning athletes in the Rio Olympics.
- For the first time, IOA top brass comprising presidentN Ramachandranand secretary general Rajeev Mehta, announced that the national Olympic body will be awarding cash rewards to the Medal winning athletes in the Rio Olympic 2016.
The complete reward list by the IOA as follows,
- Rs 50 lakh – gold medal,
- Rs 30 lakh – silver and
- Rs 20 lakh – bronze.
The coaches will be awarded an equivalent of 50 per cent of the amount that the athletes receive.
- IOAs maiden attempt hope that this will form an additional incentive for the athletes and also looking at a higher than ever medal haul.
IOC approves 271 Russian athletes to compete in Rio Games
The International Olympic Committee has approved 271 Russian athletes to compete in the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, after a doping scandal put Russian participation in this year’s games in doubt and this doping review eliminated 118 competitors.
- It is noted that 271 athletes will form the team entered by the Russian National Olympic Committee from the original entry list of 389 athletes.
- The IOC recently rejected calls from anti-doping organizations to ban Russia’s entire team following a report by a World Anti-Doping Agency investigator that detailed evidence of state-directed doping and cover-ups.
- It is noted that Two Russian swimmers named in WADA’s bombshell McLaren report were included among a 31-strong squad for the Olympics world swimming body.
- But Russia’s track and field team remains barred following an earlier decision by the IAAF. Only one athlete, US-based long jumper Darya Klishina, was cleared by the IAAF because she had been regularly tested outside Russia.
