In pictures: Rio 2016 opening ceremony

Brazilian performers wearing silver buckets hats rustle giant ‘goon bags’ at the beginning of the show.

A ‘goon bag’ is the plastic container holding the liquid inside a box or cask of (usually) cheap wine.

Performers hold strings to create spirals of green on the floor of the Maracana Stadium.

Fireworks explode as the show kicks off.

Brazil’s love of dancing showcases the opening ceremony along with plenty of colour and fireworks igniting around rim of the stadium.

Model Gisele Bundchen on stage as The Model from Ipanema.

Artistic dance during opening ceremony.

African and European performers stage musical repertoire.

Flagbearers lead each team into the stadium. This is a view of the German team.

Australian flagbearer Anna Meares leads her team out during the opening ceremony.

Rafael Nadal carries the flag of Spain during the ceremony.

Brazil’s flag is raised at the ceremony.

The Olympic Cauldron is lit by the final torch bearer Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima during the opening ceremony

Confetti shoots up into the air as the Olympic rings are formed at the ceremony.

Members of the Vietnamese contingent during the opening ceremony.

A new Olympics officially begins.

As the lights of the stadium dimmed during the show the only illumination was coming from the lights of thousands of fans' cell phones.