Fireworks, Pageantry As Rio Opens 2016 Olympic Games

Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony.

Brazilian soldiers march past the Olympic and Braziilian flags.

The Olympics – the first to be staged in South America -- will run until August 21. 

Children enter with kites in the shape of doves.

Members of a samba school perform.

Spectators cheer the arrival of more than 10,000 athletes from 207 teams.

A bomb-disposal expert wearing protective equipment examined a suspect package next to the beach volleyball arena as the opening ceremonies got under way.

Residents of the Mangueira favela watch the opening ceremonies.

The ceremony celebrated Brazil's history and natural beauty.

The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach (center), and Brazil's interim president, Michel Temer, watch the festivities.

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen participated in the opening ceremony by strutting across the arena to the iconic Girl From Ipanema song.

Zahra Nemati (center) of Iran leads her team into the stadium. Nemati, an archer, became Iran's first-ever female flag bearer. She will compete for Iran in both the Olympic and the Paralympic games next month.

Former Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima climbs the stairs to light the Olympic flame.