RIO DE JANEIRO (Sputnik) – Brazil is hosting the Summer Olympic Games on August 5-21, 2016. It is the first South American country to host the competition.
"I declare open the Games of Rio celebrating the XXXI Olympiad of the modern era," Temer said speaking during the opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday evening.
Temer was booed and jeered as he declared the Games open, although not for long, as fireworks erupted after he’d spoken for a few seconds.
Brazil is hosting the Summer Olympic Games on August 5-21, 2016. It is the first South American country to host the competition.
Over the past year, the local public has been frustrated over Brazil's decision to host the Games as the country faced a pile of domestic problems, including the notorious Zika virus, President Dilma Rouseff's impeachment, and general economic decline.
In May, Brazil's Senate voted in favor of starting impeachment proceedings against Rousseff after she was accused of concealing the country’s budget deficit ahead of the 2014 re-election. Rousseff has been suspended from office for 180 days, pending trial. Michel Temer, who had been Brazil's vice president since 2011, is assuming presidency during that period.
Temer is reportedly being accused of crimes similar to those cited as the reason behind Rousseff's impeachment process.
