Pride and passion

Rio 2016 athletes may come from every country and culture on the planet, but they are united in their pride at taking part in the world's largest and most prestigious sporting festival.

None other than swimmer Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of them all, spoke of how thrilling it was to be starting his first race at Rio, saying: "When I was on the block, I honestly thought my heart might explode out of my chest. I was so hyped tonight and so excited."

A very special host city

The thrill of taking part in the Games is matched for some Olympians only by the pleasure of being in Rio de Janeiro.

Many athletes have noticed the unique way in which Brazilian crowds are participating in the Games, cheering on their favourites raucously while energetically booing others, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of pantomime and carnival at many venues.

"Rio is amazing, perfect for holding such a big event. The people’s passion and the beautiful locations will make the Games very special," said two-time Olympic badminton champion Lin Dan of China.

When Novak Djokovic played Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, the Brazilians supported him vocally.

“I don’t how to thank them," Djokovic said after his shock defeat. "This kind of atmosphere I experience a few times in my life, mostly when I am in my country. This felt like I’m in my country. It felt like I’m Brazilian."

Away from the Games, there's also the city itself, home to vibrant people, beautiful beaches and world-famous landmarks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.

"Seeing Christ the Redeemer while competing is incredible. In the future I’ll be able to say: ‘I competed at Copacabana beach," said British marathon swimmer Keri-Anne Payne, while archer Sjef Van den Berg of the Netherlands said: "It’s an honour to compete at the home of Rio Carnival, such an iconic place for Brazilians."

German sailor Thomas Plössel has said Rio "is the best place for sailing that I know. Guanabara Bay is perfect for our sailing class, because there are hardly any waves. The scenery with the deep green mountains, the rocks and the cityscape in the background is unbelievable."

The biggest stage of all

For South African rugby sevens player Seabelo Senatla, there is no greater sporting achievement than taking part in the Games:

The Olympic ideal of participation was highlighted by British golfer Danny Willett, who said: "You don't often get as strong a field as we have here unless you are paying guys millions of dollars to turn up."

"This has been the most fun I have had for a long time," he added.

For some, the feeling of winning a medal the most special moment, as described by Kazakhstan's 63kg weightlifting bronze medallist Karina Goricheva: "When I was standing at the podium and getting this medal I simply felt euphoria. I simply forgot everything; my hard trainings, my tears, my regrets. It was just a feeling of light and happiness inside."

For American artistic gymnast Simone Biles, Rio 2016 has been the realisation of a dream:

For others, simply taking part had allowed them to achieve the impossible. "This is a dream and I don't want to wake up too soon," said swimmer Rafi Anis of the Refugee Olympic Team, while colleague Yusra Mardini, who won her heat, said: "The only thing I ever wanted was to compete in the Olympics."

Participants highlighted the worldwide popularity of the event, as one of the few sporting competitions that can reach beyond sport fans to the wider public. As American football player Carli Lloyd put it, "for the Olympics, the whole world is captivated, turns on its television and supports their country, whether they are soccer fans or not."

And who better to have the last word than six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, a man aiming for an unprecedented 'triple-triple' of sprint titles. Speaking of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he simply stated: “This is where history is going to be made.”