Shezhana to carry Kenya’s flag in opening ceremony

Teenage female archer, Shezhana Anwar has earned the honour to carry Kenya’s flag into the iconic Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 31st Olympics Games.

Team Kenya media liaison, Peter Angwenyi, told Citizen Digital in Rio that the 16 year-old and the country’s youngest competitor at the Summer Games also known as Kuki had been selected to lead the team out during the customary parade of nations.

“She is one of the youngest at the Games and will be the first Kenyan to compete in Rio at 1pm Brazil time (7pm local time) at the Sambadrome Parade Area that is built for the Rio carnival,” Angwenyi said of the lone sportsperson at her discipline entered by the country for the Games.

Shezhana is the daughter of veteran rally driver Azar Anwar with brother Shazar a national Motocross champion and her mother Tabasamu doubles up as her coach and team manager.

An estimated three billion people are expected to watch the ceremony, which has taken five years to produce with almost three months of non-stop practice at the stadium.

The three hour performance that starts at 2pm local time (+3GMT) will feature 300 dancers, over 3000 volunteers and 12000 costumes.

The Brazilian Government has called for a two-day holiday climaxing with the opening ceremony and whereas one would have expected to find jubilant Brazilians counting down to the fete, there was little activity on the ground to suggest a momentous occasion was about to get underway.

Patricia Santos, a civil servant working in the Justice Ministry has conflicting feelings about the start of the Games.

“I am happy because it is a big party. It is important but we have many problems to resolve, health, security transport, and politics. Very many issues that I can’t mention at a go,” she wistfully told Citizen Digital on her way home looking exhausted.

She is still hoping she can get a ticket for one of the Olympic Games but confesses that prices that range from USD100 (Ksh10,000) are a touch too high for the average worker in a nation undergoing record inflation.

However, her eyes light up when asked about the finer details of the Olympic opening ceremony in line with the party culture that is Brazil.

“I think we will have a beautiful party with dancing, samba, salsa and very many beautiful things,” she offered.

Danish Journalist Jesper Steinmetz has temporarily relocated from North America to South America to cover the opening ceremony.

He spends most of his day doing live broadcasts for the benefit of the Danish audience but he is concerned about the mood in Rio.

“It actually seems like I’m more excited than the Brazilians and they keep saying that the money could be spent in a better way,” the broadcaster added.

“The opening ceremony is supposed to be that special moment where something happens that we will all talk about the next day. Can you imagine if Pele lights the official torch signalling the start of the Olympic event. That will be something else,” Steinmetz offered on the most iconic moment of the ceremony when the identity of who lights the torch is revealed.

Nevertheless, it is expected that once the Games officially kick off, then the bustling tourist city of Rio will spring to life and showcase its culture that is steeped in history and heritage.

Authorities have deployed 85,000-security personnel from 55 countries and their presence is visible at every corner.

A special metro transport train system has been inaugurated specially for the Olympics and certain sections of the road have been reserved for accredited personnel.

Waihiga Mwaura is reporting from Rio de Janeiro, follow his updates on Twitter through the handle @WaihigaMwaura and @citizentvkenya