Olympics: Protests target Olympics ahead of gala opening

The Olympic torch wound its way around Rio de Janeiro’s landmarks on Friday as protesters unleashed a final blast of anger before the opening ceremony of the trouble-plagued sporting spectacle.

The carnival capital of the world is hoping the extravaganza at the Maracana Stadium will draw a line under a turbulent seven-year build-up dogged by recession, rising crime and doping scandals.

The torch was taken to the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio and other landmarks as it moved slowly toward the Maracana where the opening ceremony starts at 2300 GMT.

But as the clock ticked down to the start of the first South American Olympics in history, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to vent their fury at Brazil’s rulers and the multi-billion-dollar cost of the Games.

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Residents of Rio de Janeiro demonstrate against interim president Michel Temer, political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel on August 5, 2016. Thousands of Brazilians angry at political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio Olympics blocked traffic in protests hours before the gala opening ceremony. Most people came to vent anger at center-right interim president Michel Temer who took power in May on the suspension of the elected leftist president, Dilma Rousseff, for an impeachment trial that her supporters claim amounts to a coup. TASSO MARCELO / AFP

A woman dressed in a Brazilian flag demonstrates against the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the interim President Michel Temer in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. Jeff PACHOUD / AFP Thousands of Brazilians launched angry anti-Olympics protests hours before Friday's Rio Games opening ceremony in fury at political scandals rattling the host country and the billions spent on the event. Waving signs reading "No to the Olympics!", a crowd of about 3,000 blocked an avenue outside the luxury Copacabana Palace Hotel. JEFF PACHOUD / AFP

Residents of Rio de Janeiro demonstrate against interim president Michel Temer, political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel on August 5, 2016. Thousands of Brazilians angry at political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio Olympics blocked traffic in protests hours before the gala opening ceremony. Most people came to vent anger at center-right interim president Michel Temer who took power in May on the suspension of the elected leftist president, Dilma Rousseff, for an impeachment trial that her supporters claim amounts to a coup. TASSO MARCELO / AFP

Residents of Rio de Janeiro demonstrate against interim president Michel Temer, political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel on August 5, 2016. Thousands of Brazilians angry at political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio Olympics blocked traffic in protests hours before the gala opening ceremony. Most people came to vent anger at center-right interim president Michel Temer who took power in May on the suspension of the elected leftist president, Dilma Rousseff, for an impeachment trial that her supporters claim amounts to a coup. TASSO MARCELO / AFP

Waving signs reading “No to the Olympics!”, about 3,000 gathered outside the luxury Copacabana Palace Hotel where many Olympic athletes are staying.

Brazil has spent more than $10 billion on new infrastructure and preparing for the Games at a time of economic crisis.

The billions lavished on the Games has angered many Brazilians as the country grapples with a tanking economy and a grim litany of social problems.

Further protests were expected around the 78,600-seat Maracana before it hosts a parade of athletes from 207 teams — Kosovo and South Sudan are present for the first time — and dozens of world leaders.

The ceremony launches 16 days of sporting drama featuring about 10,500 competitors, including sprint king Usain Bolt and swimming superstar Michael Phelps which wraps up on August 21.

“I hope the opening ceremony can be a kind of anti-depressant for Brazil,” said one of the show’s creative directors, the acclaimed “City of God” film-maker Fernando Meirelles.

“Athens was classical, Beijing was grandiose, London was smart – ours is going to be cool,” Meirelles added.

– Crisis-ridden build-up –

The party will kick-off after the most crisis-ridden build-up to an Olympics in history, with a biting recession, double-digit unemployment, soaring crime and a public health crisis caused by the Zika virus just a few of the problems ravaging the city.

A political crisis led to the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, meaning the Brazilian leader will miss Friday’s ceremony.

Interim president Michel Temer will take Rousseff’s place, but could face a hostile reception from the crowd.

Brazilian media reports say that music will be turned up as soon as he finishes speaking to mask any booing from protesters.

At most Games the lighting of the flame is a highlight.

And the secret of the Rio flame returned ahead of the ceremony when Brazilian football great Pele, 75, said he could not carry the torch because of poor health.

A vast security blanket of 85,000 military and police — twice the number on duty at the 2012 London Games — will be draped over the city to ward off the threat of street crime and terror attacks.

That has not been able to offer total protection, with a spate of thefts from the Olympic Athletes village. The Danish, Chinese and Australian delegations have all reported items stolen. Journalists’ cameras and laptops have also been targeted for thefts.

– Drug scandal –

Anticipation for the sporting battles has been eclipsed by fallout from the Russian doping scandal that has divided the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The IOC’s decision not to impose a blanket ban on Russia following revelations of a state-sponsored doping program opened the door to legal turmoil that left the precise make-up of the Russian team in limbo.

On Thursday, the IOC confirmed the Russian team would be made up of 271 athletes, with 118 eliminated because of the drug scandal.

Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said the team was “probably the cleanest in Rio” because of all the tests and checks they have undergone.The first gold medal should be awarded on Saturday in shooting.

All eyes will be on American swimming star Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, when he returns to the pool in the first week.

Track and field will see Jamaican star Bolt aim to defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m crowns by clinching all three for the third straight Games.

Gymnastics, meanwhile, could see the world find a new darling with America’s teenage star Simone Biles while new sports making their debut in Rio will include seven-a-side rugby and golf.