Why some Olympians skipped the opening ceremony
Many athletes compete the day after the Rio Olympics kick off
By Callum Ng, CBC Sports
By now you've seen plenty of selfies, tweets, and snaps from the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics.
The Canadian athletes who marched were pumped, their exuberant faces awash with the excitement of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
But not everyone went.
Many athletes who compete in the first few days opted out, to stay rested and focused. Going to the opening ceremony can be exhausting. It means a late-afternoon departure, usually a slow bus ride, hours on your feet, and a late bed-time is certain.
Not exactly possible for the Canadian women's soccer team in Sao Paulo the night before a match against Zimbabwe.
We may not be at the Maracana for opening ceremonies but we are there in spirit. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningCeremony?src=hash">#OpeningCeremony</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/can?src=hash">#can</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cwnt?src=hash">#cwnt</a> <a href="https://t.co/WWvWKjMujr">pic.twitter.com/WWvWKjMujr</a>
—@rhirhi8Divers Jennifer Abel and Meaghan Benfeito stayed in the Athletes' Village. Also, we see you: Hugo Barrette (cycling), Michelle Williams and Chantal Van Landeghem (swimming).
Watching the opening ceremonies from the other side this year 🇨🇦 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamCanada?src=hash">#TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/cs4rBus3S0">pic.twitter.com/cs4rBus3S0</a>
—@MegBenfeitoAmerican breaststroke swimmer Cody Miller got his swag on, but stayed behind. His 100-metre breaststroke is Saturday.
Racing tomorrow🏊🏼😱!! This is my new favorite pic🇧🇷💚!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamUSA?src=hash">#TeamUSA</a> Swag is on point!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash">#Olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Swimming?src=hash">#Swimming</a> <a href="https://t.co/zdGVC8nY28">pic.twitter.com/zdGVC8nY28</a>
—@swimillerA full squad from the U.S. swim team, including backstroker Kathleen Baker and world-record holder Katie Ledecky went for the rings shot.
We may not be walking in opening ceremonies, but that didn't stop us from having a photoshoot🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamUSA?src=hash">#TeamUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/xfQKMsJb3k">pic.twitter.com/xfQKMsJb3k</a>
—@KathleenBaker2Canadian Liz Gleadle, who doesn't throw her javelin in competition until Aug. 16, watched from home in Vancouver.
Live tweeting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningCeremony?src=hash">#OpeningCeremony</a> from Vancouver post-practice! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamCanada?src=hash">#TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StepUpStandTall?src=hash">#StepUpStandTall</a> <a href="https://t.co/usQLAp8nst">pic.twitter.com/usQLAp8nst</a>
—@JavelizzMany of Gleadle's track and field teammates are in Brazil, but caught the ceremony from their pre-camp in Juiz de Fora.
Ready to take on Rio. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/openingceremonies?src=hash">#openingceremonies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rio2016?src=hash">#rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/olympics?src=hash">#olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/juizdefora?src=hash">#juizdefora</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ohcanada?src=hash">#ohcanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gocanadago?src=hash">#gocanadago</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAN?src=hash">#CAN</a> <a href="ht<div id=" fb-root"=""> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.7"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>tps://t.co/yCrxPTZ5Dy">pic.twitter.com/yCrxPTZ5Dy</a>
—@btheiseneatonThe <a href="https://twitter.com/AthleticsCanada">@athleticscanada</a> Juiz de Fora pre-camp crew taking in the opening ceremonies <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/teamcanada?src=hash">#teamcanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningCeremony?src=hash">#OpeningCeremony</a> <a href="https://t.co/pgaWGvuhLg">pic.twitter.com/pgaWGvuhLg</a>
—@jess__oconnellThree-time Olympic champion Kerri Walsh-Jennings and her beach volleyball teammate April Ross chilled back at the hotel. They begin their tournament on Saturday.
The Canadian women's basketball team starts on Saturday against China, so it relaxed in the Athletes' Village.
Couldn't make the opening ceremonies, but this isn't a bad backup location to watch em...😉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rio2016?src=hash">#rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympicVillage?src=hash">#OlympicVillage</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yhdibm1SQU">pic.twitter.com/Yhdibm1SQU</a>
—@AyimWhoAyim