Olympic Opening Ceremonies 2016: Schedule, Viewing Info and Latest Buzz

Few traditions are cooler in sports than the opening ceremony at the Olympics. And this year's event at the Rio Games promises to be a fantastic spectacle.

Below, we'll break down the schedule information and preview the event.
 

Viewing Information

Where	Date	Time (ET)	Watch	Stream
Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Friday, Aug. 5	7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. (tape delay in the United States)	NBC	NBCOlympics.com

Preview

Here's what we know for sure.

Soccer legend Pele has been asked to light the Olympic torch, though he reportedly has yet to accept, per Marilia Brocchetto of CNN. Brazilian music artists and icons Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Anitta will perform. Supermodel Gisele will participate as the "Girl from Ipanema," with Brazilian musician Paulo Jobim playing the famous bossa nova song on the piano.

His father, Antonio Jobim, wrote the song in 1962.

The opening ceremony also promises to be the "sexiest ever," according to Caroline Graham of the Daily Mail: 

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Details of the show have been kept secret, but insiders say it will feature 6,000 scantily clad performers and that the theme will be "the evolution of the people of Brazil," featuring tributes to the rainforest, Brazil’s famous Carnival and the country’s love of sensual dance and the female form.

"There will be lots of nearly naked women doing the samba," said a source connected with the three-hour spectacle, after a dress rehearsal surrounded by armed guards. "The costumes have been designed to show off as much flesh as possible which means as little material as they can get away with. This is Brazil, after all, where the female body is celebrated like no other place on Earth."

"

And according to Brocchetto, "Brazilian model Lea T will become the first transgender person to have a major role at an Olympic opening ceremony."

The Chicago Tribune, meanwhile, summed up the themes of the event thusly: "In all, 4,800 performers and volunteers will be involved in the show built on three basic 'pillars' touching on sustainability, particularly re-forestation, 'smile' and the idea of 'gambiarra,' the quirky Brazilian art of improvising repairs using whatever parts are available."

NBC's tape-delayed coverage will include Ryan Seacrest as the host along with Brazilian supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima.

Because of financial difficulties in Brazil, the country's opening ceremony may not be as grand or lavish as ceremonies in the past. But it promises to be one heck of a party as the Brazilians celebrate their love of song, dance and sensuality. 

The opening ceremony is meant to be a celebration of the host nation, an introduction and a welcome to the world. In that regard, Brazil should party as only Brazil can. That should make Rio's opening ceremony a bright, vibrant and colorful display—and one that shouldn't be missed. 

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.