The IOC President Thomas Bach, and Michel Temer, the acting President of Brazil are announced before everyone stands for the national anthem. 

It's not the a capella version which bought tears to the eyes during the World Cup, but an acoustic version from Paulinho da Viola...

Meanwhile, about 200 protesters gathered on Friday afternoon in the Saens Pena square in Tijuca to protest against the Olympics – only a few metres from the stage of the opening ceremony, reports BBC Brasil’s Luciani Gomes.

The protest, which started at 14:00 local time, left the square around 16:00 and headed toward the Maracana. There were reports of a small riot on the way, and one protester was injured.

On the Facebook page on which the demonstration was called, protesters said they are campaigning against rights violations on behalf of mega-events, forced removals, militarisation of favelas and suburbs, and what they call “the privatisation of the city”.

If you're fluent in Portuguese, you can read BBC Brasil's live text over here.

Fireworks! Only five minutes in and the fireworks have started...

Dancers! These opening ceremonies keep the choreographers of the world in business, and a fine job they do too.

This is 'gambiarra', or the Brazilian talent for making something great out of almost nothing. You tell Big Phil that.

The dancers make a sheet of paper into a wave and then into a drum as they countdown. They look like Quality Street wrappers discaded in the tin...

The song in the opening video is “Aquele Abraço” by Gilberto Gil.

Get him on your Spotify list. It means 'that hug'. 

And we're off! Bang on time too.

Please watch at the top of the screen.

The opening video of Rio from above aims to show that nature and urban life coexist perfectly...

If Brazil has a Senhor Feijao, tonight will be his night...

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Steve. A true man of steel...

Sir Steve Redgrave
Five-time Olympic rowing champion on BBC One

Image source, Getty Images

I held it with one hand all the way round, four years before in Barcelona I did it with the other arm. I saw a Russian weightlifter do it one-handed and I thought 'if I ever get to do it I'm doing it like that'.

GB slalom canoeist Fiona Pennie has been catching up with the Murray brothers.

Wimbledon titles, plus an Olympic crown, a Davis Cup and a couple of Spoty awards since 2008...

Stunning overhead shots of the Maracana Stadium, the roof dancing with pale blue lights. The whole place bathing in light as the playing surface remains tightly covered up...

He's found a friend!

If this isn't whetting your appetites for what lies ahead, then there's no hope. 

Have you guessed a theme yet?

Image source, Getty Images

Holster, or no holster? That's the chat around Andy Murray's flag holding technique.

Sir Steve Redgrave mocks a suggestion of having to holster the flag, while Clare Balding believes that Murray should save his arms...

“To represent your country at the Games is an unbelievable experience, but to lead out Team GB will be an incredible honour, the biggest in sport,” said Andy Murray after being named as the Team GB flag bearer. 

Murray was the choice of a panel of British Olympic Association experts, who picked from nominations made by each of the respective national sports federations.

There will be 10,500 athletes from a record 207 teams competing in Rio, including the Refugee Olympic Team, while it will be the first time Kosovo and South Sudan have taken part in the Games.

The Refugee Olympic Team will compete under the Olympic flag and has 10 members - five from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from DR Congo and one from Ethiopia.

With 554 athletes, the United States has the largest Olympic team, but 100m runner Etimoni Timuani is the only athlete from the South Pacific nation of Tuvalu.

The Rio Games will be the first to feature Olympians born since the year 2000 - and the youngest is 13-year-old Nepalese swimmer Gaurika Singh.

Is this fella lost?

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Johnson
Four-time Olympic gold medallist athlete on BBC One

The first time I took part in the opening ceremony was in Barcelona, 1992. I had made the team a month before but the first time it dawned on me that I am an Olympian was when I walked int the stadium. That was the realisation. I had the opportunity to do in in 1996 in Atlanta and that was amazing, seeing Muhammad Ali light the flame.

It is the only time you can soak up the atmosphere, the next day is game on. Back to preparation, focus and the precautions you need to go through to not get injured and you are ready top go. That is what makes it difficult for those starting on Saturday. You are here to compete.

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer in Rio

Re possible Olympic cauldron lighter in lieu of Pele: Gustavo might not be Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but surely there is no-one better suited to being the Kuerten raiser?  

Image source, Getty Images

The host nation are predicted to pick up 20 medals - eight gold, 10 silver, two bronze - to finish 10th in the table.

That would be three more than their haul of 17 at London 2012.