The Olympic flame will now be transported to the Olympic Boulevard live site in Rio's rejuvenated port area, where it will be hosted in Howe's cauldron.

SUSTAINABLE GAMES
City of God director Fernando Meirelles, one of the creative directors of the opening ceremony, explains the green credentials behind that amazing Olympic cauldron we've just seen..., 

STUNNING AND SUSTAINABLE WORK OF ART
Crowning the Rio 2016 Olympic cauldron is a kinetic sculpture by US artist Anthony Howe. 

The dynamic and sustainable work of art represents the sun and moves with the power of wind. The artist's vision is that these two renewable energy sources should be more widely exploited.

“Our cauldron is a hybrid that moves itself through the wind and reflects fire," said one of the three directors, Andrucha Waddington. "The flame uses a small amount of gas, is small in size, and has this great sculpture by Anthony Howe. It’s greatness lies in its wind-power motion.”

HERE COMES THE FLAME!
Tennis legend Gustavo Kuerten - affectionately known as 'Guga' in Brazil - enters the Maracana with the Olympic torch, before passing it to ex-basketball player Hortencia, who passes it on to former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima... WHO LIGHTS THE OLYMPIC CAULDRON!!!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!! 

AFTER RIO, TIME TO VISIT TONGA
Tonga's man of the moment is Pita Nikolas, the bare-chested, heavily-oiled flag-bearer who led out his delegation as jaws dropped and appreciation rose.

Tonight, the Tonga flag-bearer became an instant internet sensation.

His appearance at Rio 2016 makes Nikolas the first Tongan taekwondo athlete to have qualified for the Olympic Games. The 32-year-old has worked as a youth counsellor and, quelle surprise, has also worked as a model. 
 

WHAT’S THAT SONG?
"Sandália de Prata” by Ary Barroso

Performed by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Anitta, the classic samba song of Ary Barroso asks, “This here, what is it”? The music celebrates the joy of Brazilians as well as people “who are not afraid of fire and never give up.”

The final message of the show is for the hosts, the Brazilians who recognize their difficulties and have the spirit to overcome them.

The directors offer this message: “The choice of Caetano, Gil and Anitta — who are not traditional Samba interpreters — to sing this classic samba song is the expression of our desire to show that Brazilian music, as well as the country itself and even the whole world, would benefit from mixing differences without prejudice, with a spirit of inclusion, and above all, with celebrating happiness.”

CARNAVAL!
The final song of the evening is performed by legendary duo Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, who team up with carioca singer Anitta to sing Ary Barroso’s classic ‘Sandalia de Prata’. Just as enthralling is the sight of the drum sections from all 12 of Rio's samba schools playing together for the first time... ever!

LET THERE BE SAMBA
It's credit to the restraint of the directors that they managed to hold out for three whole hours before unleashing full-scale carnaval-inspired samba mayhem. But you knew we'd get there in the end, right?

Master of samba Wilson das Neves starts gets the party started on a little matchbox that evokes the spirits of great sambistas. Their faces appear on screen while a astoundingly nimble-footed eight-year-old boy dances himself into the hearts of millions. This is a tradition that will never die.

GREEN RINGS
Right, let's jump back to just before the speeches started. You may remember a stunning moment when the seeds that were planted by the athletes suddenly sprung to glorious life, forming a brilliant green version of the Olympic rings.

A central theme of the ceremony has been sustainability. As Daniela Thomas, one of the creative directors, says: “The crux of the whole ceremony is this idea of the garden. And the Olympic rings are at the heart this.”

So, how did they do it? Check out this video that explains it all...

THE SWEETEST VOICES 
We have the formalities of the Olympic flag, oaths and anthem, which gets a very sweet rendition from a children's choir from a community project in Niteroi, a city across the bay from Rio de Janeiro.

It's certainly a moment those children will never forget. You can read more about the choir here.

DOVES AND KITES: SYMBOLS OF PEACE AND HOPE
Two hundred children run into stadium carrying white kites, while thousands of paper doves fall from the sky.

Inside each of these kites, children from Rio de Janeiro to Nairobi have written their ambitions for a peaceful, safe world. They remind us: “Peace is loving what is different,” and “All dreams are of peace".

Even more adorable is the little girl trailing at the back of the group, who is roared along as if she were Usain Bolt as she completes her lap of the Maracana.

This is the signal for Acting President Temer to declare the Rio 2016 Olympic Games... OPEN!!!

WORLDWIDE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR KIPCHOGE KEINE
The first Olympic Laurel, a new award to recognise notable contributions to the Olympic movement, is given to Kenyan Kipchoge Keine, who houses, feeds and educates orphans in his home country.

'BOA NOITE, CARIOCAS'
Thomas Bach addressed the Maracana crowd with the distinct accent of the cariocas, the residents of Rio de Janeiro, and wished them good evening.

"This is the moment for the cidade maravilhosa, the first Olympic Games in South America. The organizing committee and all Brazlilians can be proud today. 

"Our admiration for you is even greater because you managed to do all of this in a difficult time in Brazilian history. We have always believed in you.

"Your passion for sport and your joie de vivre... have impressed us."

Bach praised the thousands of Brazilians and hundreds more who have travelled to Rio de Janeiro to dedicated their time and energy to Rio 2016. "The best ambassadors for the Games are the thousands of volunteers."

"BRAZIL WELCOMES THE WORLD WITH OPEN ARMS"
Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman is adressing the world: "I am speaking to the whole planet, five continents, we welcome you to Rio, the Olympic city. The Olympic dream is now an Olympic reality. The best place in the world is here and now. Brazil welcomes the world with open arms."

MODERN MAJOR GENERAL
She does five sports and still has energy to carry the flag for Brazil. The impressive modern pentathlete and gold-medal hope on home turf, Yane Marques was voted her country's flag-bearer. 

The London 2012 bronze-medal winner has mastered the five disciplines of an exemplary late-19th century soldier: fencing, freestyle swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running. 

How appropriate, considering Marques is a member of the Brazilian army, holding the rank of sergeant.