The Amazon rainforest was recognised amid a significant focus on the environment and climate change,

The Amazon rainforest was recognised amid a significant focus on the environment and climate change, The Amazon rainforest was recognised amid a significant focus on the environment and climate change, and the building of contemporary Brazil, with a metropolis skyline created inside the stadium, was acknowledged before a nod was given to aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont with a stunning video display featuring several of Rio's landmarks, such as Christ the Redeemer.

Celebrities have begun to play a larger role in Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and Rio did not disappoint on that front. The vocal skills of Dame Judi Dench could be heard prior to the arrival of the athletes, while earlier in the program Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen made an entrance during the ceremony to the delight of spectators. The ceremony's creative bosses, who included Oscar-nominated director Fernando Meirelles, described Gisele's appearance as being her "last catwalk" and she coolly strolled across the floor of the stadium in a gold-sequined dress to the relaxing tune of arguably Brazil's most famous song, the bossa nova jazz classic The Girl from Ipanema. Music was a prominent theme of the opening ceremony, with samba among the genres represented. Brazilian flag is raised

Gisele Bundchen at Rio opening ceremony