After a turbulent and prolonged buildup to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, the opening ceremony will signal the beginning of what should be 16 days of absorbing sport.
Indeed, the ongoing doping controversy surrounding the Russian team and complaints about the standard of the accommodation in Brazil have blemished the lead-up to the event. But the organisers and athletes will hope that when the action starts, that’ll draw the spotlight back to sport.
A stellar opening ceremony can set the tempo for the entire spectacle, too, as was the case in 2012 when a display in London captivated the watching world.