Team Cayman is finally in Rio de Janerio preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

All athletes will be together once again right before the opening ceremony on Aug. 5. Ronald Forbes, Florence Allan, Lara and Geoffrey Butler have safely arrived, while Kemar Hyman is still traveling.

On July 31 a show full of Brazilian rhythms greeted the Cayman Islands delegation at their welcoming ceremony at the Rio 2016 Olympic Village. Cayman was one of the first countries to be welcomed and participate in the event that included the raising of the Cayman Islands flag and the playing of Brazil’s National Anthem. All countries will take part in the tradition before the start of the Games.

The show started with a tribal dance before moving on to a diverse assortment of Brazilian rhythms, including forró, samba and bossa nova. Music by late Brazilian legends Raul Seixas and Tim Maia was played alongside some of the latest carioca funk hits.

Following the music, the mayor of the Olympic Village, ex-player basketball player and two-time Olympic medallist Janeth Arcain, gave a speech about the importance of the Games for humanity. “Olympic sport signifies a better world, of peace and unity between peoples,” she said. “It’s an enormous pleasure to see this Olympic flag flying in Rio.”

With less than 2 days to go to the official start of the Olympic Games, athletes will parade through Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium, which hosted the 2014 World Cup Final.

Kicking off at 8pm BRT, Greece will lead the parade of 206 athletes, with each competing nation following in order according to the dominant language of the host city. Brazil will then march last. Cayman Islands will be the 41st country walking into Maracanã Stadium at an estimated time of 9:06 pm BRT.

Lara Butler is the first Cayman athlete to compete in the 100m backstroke the next day. Geoffrey Butler follows her the day after competing in the 400m freestyle.
Sailor Florence Allan takes on 5 days of sailing, starting on Aug. 8 and ending on Aug. 13. Kemar Hyman begins his prelims on Aug. 13, if qualifying to the semifinals for the 100m sprint Hyman will race on Aug. 14. Ronald Forbes, 110m hurdler, competes on Aug. 15, if qualifying to the semifinals Forbes will race on Aug. 16.

After months of rigorous training, all Cayman athletes are gearing up to the biggest day of their sporting career.

For more information and photos of Team Cayman at the 2016 Olympic Games, follow the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee on Facebook.