06/08/2016 BBC Weekend News

The 2016 Olympics have opened in Rio de Janeiro with a ceremony to mark

the first such Games to be held in a South American country.

Demonstrators against the cost of the event were kept at a distance

From Rio, our sports editor, Dan Roan reports.

One of sport's most iconic settings for the start of what remains

In front of an estimated television audience of three billion people,

the opening ceremony of the Olympics was under way.

The evening's key themes of world peace and sustainability immediately

Then came a vivid portrayal of Brazil's history,

the stadium floor transformed, first into an ocean,

home to the start of life, and then a rainforest.

The people of the country's native tribes performing a dance

with a transparent screen and huge elastic bands.

Next came the arrival of the Portuguese, the first

Europeans to land here, and a reminder that slavery lasted

400 years in Brazil, with an emphasis on the role that

African culture has played in the country's development.

Many Brazilians believe they were the real inventors

of the aeroplane, and in this section, homage was paid to aviator

Santos-Dumont as we were taken on a journey outside of the Maracana

and treated to a night flight across Rio.

1,500 dancers filling the stage, the audience joining them

The global audience reminded of the threat posed

by climate change, the voice of Dame Judi Dench helping to get

That then continued as the traditional parade

Each was handed a seed to be planted to create part of the new forest

in Rio before being presented to the crowd.

Andy Murray leading out Team GB as their bid to win more medals

The buildup to these Games has been amongst the most troubled

and controversial in Olympic history, but after a vibrant,

energetic and memorable show, it is now time for the focus

to shift towards the competitors themselves.

A large Russian contingent received a mixed reception after the doping

scandal that led many to call for them to be banned

The loudest cheers of the night were reserved for the ten strong

refugee team competing under the Olympic flag,

and of course, the hosts, a proud moment for this sporting nation.

With that, it was time for the traditional speeches.

We welcome you in Rio, the Olympic city.

Acting president Michel Temer declaring the Games officially open,

And in the absence of Pele, the football icon ruled

out through ill-health, marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro

de Lima had the honour of lighting the Olympic flame,

a cauldron designed to be deliberately small

and environmentally friendly, encased in a stunning sculpture.

Well, 18 sports are being contested today.

One of them is cycling, with the Tour de France

winner Britain's Chris Froome in the road race.

Live now to our sports correspondent, Natalie Pirks.

Strong. He is not the favourite. On the face of it the men's road race

is simple, the first man to cross the line wins, but it is usually

more complicated and tactical. A team of five riders will do

everything they can to get their man protected and over the line first.

On the face of it, this mountainous course should favour Chris Froome,

who has just won the Tour de France. The start line is on the Copacabana.

It will make its way past Ipanema beach and go up into the mountains

for seven laps of the circuit. Seven climbs, a cobbled section, and the

flat race back to the circuit. Chris Froome's CV does not include a

single one-day race win. He probably has a better chance in the time

trial, he is the 2012 silver medallist. Victory is not nailed on.

It will be up to Chris Froome to see if you can do it the way he did in

the summer. Thank you. 13 people, many aged between 16

and 25, have been killed A polystyrene lined ceiling caught

alight, creating toxic fumes. Candles on a birthday cake

are being blamed for the blaze The fire took hold quickly,

starting in the basement It is reported that the room had

been hired for a party and most of those who died

were in their teens and early 20s. Local media say the fire may have

been started by candles lit on a birthday cake and at least

some of the deaths were Neighbours had reported

hearing an explosion, but it is thought that may have been

the sound of glass TRANSLATION: I just said

to my friend, come, I just sat down, boom,

everything jumped. We saw the fire, and the flames,

the chairs flew out the window. France has been on edge after recent

attacks, including the killing of Father Jacques Hamel by Islamist

extremists near Rouen. French authorities have been quick

to confirm that this fire was an accident,

though emergency crews are still trying to find out

exactly how it started. A teenager charged with carrying out

a knife attack in London which left an American tourist dead and five

people injured has been Zakaria Bulhan, who's a Norwegian

of Somali origin, appeared in court today accused of murdering

64-year-old retired teacher Darlene Horton at Russell Square

on Wednesday evening, as well as five counts

of attempted murder. Work to develop a pill to treat

asthma has shown "massive promise", Most of the five

million people in the UK with asthma try to control the

condition using inhalers. While the study was small,

the charity said the drug could be a step towards a new wave

of The next news on BBC One is at

6 o'clock. Good afternoon. If you're just

settling in for your first session of Olympic action, have some

sympathies for the male