For the better part of the lead-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the prevailing narrative was disaster.
Infrastructures weren't ready, dangerous bacteria was poisoning the water and the Zika virus left some athletes thinking they'd be better off at home.
On Friday night, all those fears subsided. For now.
The 2016 Summer Olympics officially got underway in a sprawling ceremony that pushed the five-hour mark, with nary a sign of scandal to be found. In fact, it looked a whole lot like your standard Olympic affair.
There was a confluence of celebrities, elegant performances and an introduction to the multicultural traditions that make the Olympics great.