USA TODAY Sports
RIO DE JANEIRO — Mystery surrounded the lighting of the Olympic flame on Friday evening, with conflicting reports emerging about which Brazilian sports figure would be given the honor.
After international soccer legend Pele revealed in a statement during the afternoon that he had turned down the opportunity to perform lighting duties due to poor health, it was widely reported that former French Open tennis champion Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten would be called in.
However, by the time the opening ceremony began at the Maracana Stadium, leading Brazilian media outlet Globo claimed that former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima had been selected.