7 things to watch for during the Rio Olympics' opening ceremony

With much fanfare, a torch and plenty of dramatic lighting, it’s time to kick off the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The opening ceremony starts at 8 p.m. Rio time (that’s 4 p.m. Pacific, but the broadcast on NBC doesn’t start until 7:30 p.m.) on Friday.

Among the fun activities for those watching at home are judging countries by their athletes’ matching outfits, tweeting about the possible “oops!” moments (like when the fifth Olympic ring failed to light up in Sochi in 2014), and seeing the best (and sometimes the weirdest) performances the host country has to offer.

• Related Story: How to watch the Rio Olympics delayed, streamed and socialed

Rio’s opening ceremony will feature the contributions of a rich and diverse contingent that includes an Oscar-nominated director, a classy dame, a 12-year-old rapper, a transgender model and two of the biggest musical legends in Brazil (and the world). And yeah, Gisele Bündchen is going to be there, too.

“City of God” director Feando Meirelles, along with Andrucha Waddington and Daniela Thomas, will be providing the creative direction for the world-wide event. Meirelles came to worldwide attention with his 2004 film, which offered a powerful, gritty look at life in Brazil’s slums.

Here’s more of what’s in store:

1. The Bond coection

Remember when Daniel Craig parachuted into the London opening ceremony as James Bond back in 2012? Another Bond star, Dame Judi Dench, will read a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade. She will be joined by Brazilian actress Feanda Montenegro, who was honored by her home country for her artistic contributions and seems to be the Brazilian equivalent of Dench. The poem, which translates as “Flower and Nausea,” is about a bud that sprouts through a crack in the sidewalk of a polluted city street. So, uh, yay!

2. Music for the masses

Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil are not only major stars and exquisite musicians, but they are also heroes to the people of Brazil. The two, who got their start with the rock-influenced Brazilian music Tropicalia, were both jailed and exiled from their country for speaking out against its former military dictatorship. Also, they are simply awesome.

3. Tween with a message

And even the younger performers will have something important to say. Twelve-year-old rapper MC Soffia has written songs against racism.

Advertisement

4. Celebrating diversity

Model Lea T will be the first transgender person to be involved in an opening ceremony, but according to the official Rio 2016 website, “the exact details of her participation remains a mystery.”

5. Work it

Then, of course, there will be Gisele Bündchen, the most famous supermodel in the world. She’s Brazilian, of course, but you can almost imagine she’d have been invited anyway. This pretty much guarantees her husband New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, will be in the crowd and give NBC an easy way to plug the upcoming NFL season.

6. Just for kicks

Oh, don’t forget Pele! The country’s iconic, single-named soccer superstar (and onetime Sylvester Stallone costar!) will light the cauldron and get things started.

7. Fashion for the masses

Remember what we said about judging countries on their wardrobes? When Team U.S.A. walks across the stage, the athletes will be dressed in gear designed by Ralph Lauren. What does that mean, exactly? According to the Team U.S.A. website, the “classic, All-American look” includes a navy blazer, a striped T- shirt and white denim jeans “in a polished ensemble.” White denim jeans. Polished ensemble. Let that sink in for a minute.

The delegation’s flag bearer, famed swimmer Michael Phelps, gets a special outfit, with “electroluminescent panels that illuminate key elements of the jacket’s design,” according to the website.

It sounds like when Phelps is done carrying the torch, he could also wear his outfit to the next big EDM festival.