Dushanbe, 05.08.2016. /NIAT “Khovar”/. About 40 heads of state and government will attend the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The opening ceremony will take place at the Maracana stadium on August 5, TASS news agency reported quoting a source at Brazilian government.
«We expect about 40 heads of state and government,» the source said.
Late in July, Brazilian Foreign Minister Jose Serra told journalists that 45 heads of state and government had confirmed their presence at the Olympics opening ceremony in Rio. They include the presidents of France and Argentina; the Italian prime minister. US Secretary of State John Kerry will represent the United States.
At least 69 world leaders attended the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games in 2012. At least 50 heads of state and government arrived for the winter competitions in Sochi in 2014.
The 31st Summer Olympic Games, the very first for Latin America, will be held in the resort city of Rio de Janeiro between August 5 and 21. The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games will take place between September 7 and 18.