Olympic Torch Lighting 2016: What to Watch for During Friday's Spectacle

The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro officially begin Friday with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron to start the opening ceremony in the Maracana Stadium.

In this global event built on the backbone of traditions, none fly higher in importance than the torch, which has traveled far and wide on the trek to Rio. A legendary sports figure will undoubtedly do the honors, such as Li Ning (Beijing 2008) or Muhammad Ali (Atlanta 1996) at previous Olympics.

Hailed as the "sexiest-ever" opening ceremony, per the Daily Mail's Caroline Graham, Friday's event promises to be an epic affair kicked off in the best way possible with a torch lighting for the ages.

Olympic Opening Ceremonies

When: Friday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro

TV: NBC (8 p.m. EST)

Live Stream: Telegraph Sport, BBC One

What to Watch For

The torch had quite the wild ride to this point. As per custom, it was lit a few months in advance of the Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece, and was carried by various Olympians and others.

One can classify the ride as a wild one, too, because there were two separate incidents in which someone attempted to put out the torch during its course through Brazil, according to Fox Sports' Dan Carson.

Alas, the torch is safe and sound, though who will carry it remains something of a mystery. Conventional wisdom says to expect Pele to do the honors. A three-time FIFA World Cup winner and one of the best footballers to ever play, it goes without saying Pele will play a huge role in the event one way or another.

Wednesday, a report from the Associated Press' Mauricio Savarese surfaced stating Pele will indeed light the cauldron. Pele, though, says otherwise in the same write-up.

"I need to solve the travel issue. It is an international commitment with an English company. But I would love to (light the cauldron)," Pele said. "If I manage to change (the travel plans), I would like to have the honor to light it."

Who actually does it is supposed to be a surprise. If it doesn't wind up being Pele, folks already got a glimpse of him with the torch back in July, via Rio 2016:

If Pele doesn't do it, look for it to go to someone such as sailor Torben Grael, who pulled in a record five Olympic medals. Or perhaps it goes to Giba, one of the greatest men's volleyball players in Brazil's history. Aida dos Santos, a high-jumper who competed in 1964 and 1968 would make a great choice, too, as she acted as a pioneer for women athletes in Brazil.

Regardless, the lighting of the cauldron might not be the most dazzling in history. One of the opening ceremony's planners, Fernando Meirelles, was quite blunt with Bloomberg's Tariq Panja, saying he would be "ashamed" to work with a huge budget when his country has so many needs.

Meirelles also said the event will focus on "originality" and the "roots" of the country, per the Chicago Tribune's Tim Bannon.

Once the cauldron is lit, it will sit at the Maracana Stadium overnight before being placed near Rio de Janeiro's port area. According to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), Mayor Eduardo Paes wants the cauldron right in the middle of the fray, though Mario Andrada of the organizing committee said it won't be precisely in the middle.

Friday, the Olympic torch will play its customary role one way or another via a deserving, legendary hand at an event set to entertain the globe while honoring the host country's past and bright future.

Like the other torch-lighting spectacles, it's a critical moment in sports history everyone should witness. 

All stats and info via Olympic.org unless otherwise specified.