Here's the view inside the Maracana right now. Blue skies ready for a multi-coloured mini-festival.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a tough week for Lizzie Armitstead.

Britain's world champion road race cyclist had a potential ban by UK Anti-Doping overturned by the Court for Arbitration in Sport (Cas).

Ukad argued she had incurred three strikes in the doping whereabouts system - but Cas agreed with Armitstead that the first strike should not have counted.

The 27-year-old is a favourite to win road-race gold on Sunday, but she told the BBC that "people will doubt me forever".

Novak Djokovic may be tennis's world number one, but he won't be waving Serbia's flag like a boss during the opening ceremony.

That honour befalls to London 2012 shooting silver medallist Ivana Andusis Maksimovic.

A few nations have opted for a tennis player to hold aloft their standard - GB with Andy Murray, of course, Denmark with Caroline Wozniacki, Spain with Rafa Nadal and Luxembourg with Gilles Muller.

Maybe Novak will get to a mini flag to wave...

The equestrian events get under way on Saturday Yvonne - individual and team dressage.

I hope one is dancing to Phil Collins again...

Yvonne K: I'm ready to be immersed in sport. I'll even watch those dancing horses

Emma MacDonald: Dame Clare of Balding aka @clarebalding, external is her usual fab self. Knowledgeable, great interviewer & always wears lovely jackets!

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

Brazil is a wonderful place, I am down here a couple of times a year. The people are amazing and that is what the IOC had in mind when they chose the place.

People are just having fun and they want to welcome people in and show them the culture. Before you get to that though, it takes organisation and that is where they have fallen down a little.

BBC Sport in Rio gets up close and personal with the Team GB athletes in the Olympic Village.

There are 12 sports in action on Saturday, with the women's 10m air rifle giving the first medal at about 15:00 BST.

But what else is coming up? Well, Rio marks the return of golf and rugby to the Olympics.

Golf is returning after a 112-year absence but without more than 20 of its top players.

The top four male golfers Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have all withdrawn because of Zika fears.

In fact, only four of the top 10 will be in Rio - and McIlroy said he probably will not even watch television coverage of golf at the Games, preferring "track and field, swimming, diving, the stuff that matters".

Rugby sevens will be making its debut at the Olympics, although rugby union featured regularly at the Games until 1924.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport in Rio

Image source, .

These are the proud patches of Jose Sebastian, a kind military representative of seven years who helped me get into the Deodoro venue today. 

He is flanked by colleagues here at this hub of Olympic action and explains in broken English that he has been flown in from Sao Paolo for the Games as military from around the country stiffen up security. 

This night may be one of joy for the county - I've just seen a brass band out marching - but the sight of a gun is a regular one and seems to never fail but bring caution to the overall mood.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

You've set a world record when nobody was looking! 

South Korea's Kim Woo-jin has Rio 2016's first world record of with a score of 700 in the 72-arrow ranking round. Wait till the competition gets under way for good.

Dan Roan
BBC Sports editor

There is a degree of suspicion and that has been the case for Lizzie Armitstead. This won't be the only negative news over the Olympics.

This has been one of the most troubled build-ups in the history of the Games. The integrity of the sport in under question and the IOC will be hoping no more doping stories come up.

Absolutely first class Rachel.

Anyone got a Rio-themed party on the cards this weekend?

Over the next 17 days the elite sportsmen and women of the world will be battling for medals in Rio - and we'll be encouraging you all to try their sports as well.

Over the past few years BBC Breakfast's Mike Bushell has given them all a go (watch the video above) and you can find out how to get into all the Olympic sports here.

Some love for the Rio 2016 cushion next to Clare Balding on the BBC sofa.

No idea whether they're available for general purchasing [See Phil at 20:51]. But I know we could possibly do with one when the opening ceremony finishes in the early hours of the morning...

Rebecca Adlington
Double Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer on BBC One

Everyone's focusing on Russia but in swimming we've had a number of people who have served bans. It must be so horrible to stand next to someone as an athlete and think 'I can't win'. How awful. There's always question marks over people anyway so you have to put it to the back of your mind.

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

The world's press are all focused on the doping scandal with Russia. It was all left to the last minute, what is going to happen if they will participate, that has been the news.

You will always see amazing performances at the Olympics, it doesn't matter what the preparation has been like.

No performance will wipe away the problems though, they will still exist for the IOC. They will say it has been fantastic and hope it goes away.

It is going to need extreme transparency but it is about how the organisations deal with it, they need to do it in the right way but establish credibility again.

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Chris Hoy
Six-time Olympic cycling champion on BBC One

For a clean athlete to be branded a cheat, that must be the hardest thing. You can see in her face that she [Lizzie Armitstead] is not in a great place right now. Can she get her head together to race? I'm not sure.

She is having to deal with the consequences.

Tonight - and for the duration of the Games - you can get in touch with us on #bbcrio2016.

Phil has asked the key question so far...

Phil: "Where can I get one of those Olympic cushions?"

British actor Daniel Kaluuya narrates the opening montage to the BBC's Olympic coverage as Rio 2016 gets under way.

A stupid question. Right here on the BBC.

The BBC will bring you live coverage of every gold medal at Rio 2016 across TV, radio and digital platforms - this will be the first mobile Olympics.

BBC TV will broadcast more than 3,000 hours of coverage, including 550 hours on BBC One and BBC Four, while Radio 5 live will have extensive live coverage.

Up to 24 live video streams will you show every moment.

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