#Rio2016 explodes on social media during Olympic Games opening ceremony
Spectacular curtain raiser at the Maracanã got Facebook and Instagram buzzing, with 160 million total interactions
While the Maracanã was lit up by fireworks, social networks were red hot with #Rio2016 traffic (Photo: Getty Images/Clive Brunskill)
For social media users the world over, last night was all about one thing – Rio 2016’s unforgettable opening ceremony. The Facebook Live platform, in partnership with Tagboard, allowed users to watch live video from the show, while Instagram saw many of the Rio 2016 athletes reach out to their fans through posts from inside the Maracanã.
Facebook saw 52 million users generate 109 million interactions, while 21 million Instagram members recorded 51 million posts, likes and comments.
Scene-by-scene: understand the opening ceremony
Rio 2016 is the first edition of the Olympic Games for many younger, social-media savvy athletes who are embracing new ways of interacting with fans. Social media platforms, including Snapchat, facilitate user engagement with the Games, ensuring that as many people as possible can experience the excitment of the world's greatest sporting event.
Apart from a strong focus on social media engagement, Rio 2016 also breaks ground by being the first Games held in South America – and engagement levels in the region reflected enthusiasm for Rio 2016. Countries with the greatest level of interaction on Facebook were as follows:
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Mexico
- United states
- Peru
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal’s post saw the most engagement, meanwhile:
Amongst the most popular Instagram posts was one from Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen, which at the time of writing had reached over 510,000 likes.
Join in the excitement at rio2016.com, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat
