Olympic athletes plant 'Seeds of Hope' during Opening Ceremony

Athletes entering Maracana Stadium were given seeds to place into black cartridges hanging on large towers during the Parade of Nations.

Unlike the usual Olympics processions, athletes are being asked to participate in the Opening Ceremony by planting “Seeds of Hope.”

During the Parade of Nations, every athlete entered Maracana Stadium and was handed seeds to place into black cartridges hanging on large towers. In the first hour of the Opening Ceremony, the towers were used as props.

“The towers which moments ago symbolized urban claustrophobia will house the seeds, which will grow into the Athletes’ Forest in the area of Deodoro. This will be Rio 2016’s legacy,” the official website of the Olympics explained.

Deodoro is one of largest Olympic zones for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. The temporary Deodoro Stadium will host rugby and equestrian competitions, among other sports.

What exactly the Athletes’ Forest will look like in Deodoro after the conclusion of the Games remains to be seen, but it’s not just a symbolic gesture – the actual seeds will be planted.

After the Parade of Nations, the towers containing the seeds were rearranged in the middle of the stadium into the five Olympic rings.

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