THE Rio Olympic 2016 officially opened last night in Brazil’s Maracana Stadium with athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team to compete in 28 sport events and be watched by a global audience in billions. An estimated three billion people alone watch the opening ceremony bringing the world together. It is the 28th Olympiad in modern time and first time in South American country that will continue over 17 days. We are amazed by the ceremonial opening of the game at a time when the world is suffering from bloody wars at many places and threats of militant attacks with homes lost and destroyed of millions of human beings who are seeking shelter in other countries. The Olympic Game started in ancient Greece to build peace and fraternity among people. We hope the gathering in Rio would be able to renew the message of peace and fraternity again in a world threatened by war, killing and destabilization more than anytime in receent past.
A 16-member team including 7 athletes is taking part in the global sports carnival from Bangladesh that takes place in every four years. Naturally our expectations are not too big in the midst of global sports luminaries but what makes Bangladesh distinct this time is by the event that Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has carried the Olympic Flame at its last leg to the opening stadium. He was specially invited by International Olympic Committee to discharge the feat and speak to the world Olympic delegates. We no doubt feel proud of it.
As it appears that over 10,500 athletes have gathered for the event and Prof Yunus opened the event saying it will ‘capture the minds of young people and open their imagination to develop independence and self-confidence.’ With 554 athletes, the United States has the largest Olympic team but Russia remained on the edge until last moment as IOC hovered over the issue of allowing Russian athletes to take part on charge of state sponsored doping based on World Anti-doping agency reports. The authorities at last allowed 271 athletes out of a list of 389. Perhaps it will remain the most defamatory event for Russia for future Olympics that no country should resort to such malpractices only to win medals cheating fellow athletes.
Brazil is hosting the game at a time when it is in deep recession and domestic political crisis to impeach its women President Dilma Roussel. But the country remained firm in its determination to build huge stadiums and hold the game. We hope the Rio Olympic 2016 will set new world records in many events and contribute to promote world peace.
A 16-member team including 7 athletes is taking part in the global sports carnival from Bangladesh that takes place in every four years. Naturally our expectations are not too big in the midst of global sports luminaries but what makes Bangladesh distinct this time is by the event that Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has carried the Olympic Flame at its last leg to the opening stadium. He was specially invited by International Olympic Committee to discharge the feat and speak to the world Olympic delegates. We no doubt feel proud of it.
As it appears that over 10,500 athletes have gathered for the event and Prof Yunus opened the event saying it will ‘capture the minds of young people and open their imagination to develop independence and self-confidence.’ With 554 athletes, the United States has the largest Olympic team but Russia remained on the edge until last moment as IOC hovered over the issue of allowing Russian athletes to take part on charge of state sponsored doping based on World Anti-doping agency reports. The authorities at last allowed 271 athletes out of a list of 389. Perhaps it will remain the most defamatory event for Russia for future Olympics that no country should resort to such malpractices only to win medals cheating fellow athletes.
Brazil is hosting the game at a time when it is in deep recession and domestic political crisis to impeach its women President Dilma Roussel. But the country remained firm in its determination to build huge stadiums and hold the game. We hope the Rio Olympic 2016 will set new world records in many events and contribute to promote world peace.
