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Rio de Janeiro • Hours after Michael Phelps was named as the honorary flag bearer for Team USA in Friday's Opening Ceremony at The Maracanã, news reports in Rio de Janeiro surfaced that police used tear gas and pepper spray to disband a band of protestors following the route of the Olympic torch north of the city.

The most-decorated Olympian ever will walk in his first-ever Opening Ceremony and lead the U.S. delegation expected to turn in a dominating performance here in Brazil. The walk Friday will represent a lifelong culmination for the first-timers. For the Olympic vets, it could be a second or third or fourth or fifth blessing to walk around a track with their fellow countrymen and women. Imprinted in their memories forever will be waving to a sold-out stadium and to those back home.

It's the nature of the torch's arrival that reminds those both in this massive country and around the world watching that these Olympics remain a constant source of contention. The torch, taken on a worldwide tour since the Closing Ceremony in London four years ago, reached Rio by boat this week following a tour around Brazil that lasted three months. It was carried by Lars Grael, a two-time Brazilian Olympic medalist sailor, accompanied by rows of men in naval garb rowing away.

The first person to hoist the flame within Rio boundaries on Thursday? Mayor Eduardo Paes. However, that was followed later in the morning by police tear-gassing protestors.

In the lead-up to this Olympiad, Brazil has seen its deck of cards shuffled too often and too unfairly. In the midst of a troubling economic recession and political crisis, Brazil is doing its best to mask the realities of the situation.

President Dilma Rousseff was recently impeached, accused of altering budget figures as well as using funds from state-run banks to cover up the failing real estate economy during her re-election campaign in 2014. As the torch whisks its way through the troubled city, it inches closer to The Maracanã, where on Friday night, some prominent Brazilian will signal the Games officially by lighting the Olympic Cauldron. On Wednesday, soccer legend Pele made public that he was invited to carry out the honor, but hasn't made his decision public yet.

Around 85,000 military and police have been deployed throughout the city. It's evident near the Olympic venues in the Barra area of Rio. Armed military personnel stood two-by-two every 30 yards on the sidewalk outside the zone that will host events such as boxing, weightlifting, tennis and others. Truckloads of armed personnel either wade through Rio traffic or stand stoically idle on the side of the road as photographers enter comfort-zone levels while snapping photos.

The Opening Ceremony will feature a notable Brazilian artistic voice. Film director Fernando Meirelles, director of the Oscar-nominated "City of God," which portrays a pragmatic view of life in Rio's favelas, said the spectacle will incorporate more than just the country's big names.

Samba legend Elza Soares and a 12-year-old young rapper named MC Soffia will participate, as well as Brazilian models Lea T and Gisele Bündchen. Various reports confirm that Lea T is expected to be the first transgender person to feature a prominent role in an Opening Ceremony.

"It's great we don't just have superstars in the ceremony," Mereilles told Rio2016.com this week. "We have popular culture as well."

In a statement from Brazil's local organizing committee this week, Mereilles said the original budget for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for both the Olympics and Paralympic Games was nearly $114 million. Little by little, he said, it's been cut down to under $56 million for all four events. That's 12 times less than London and 20 times less than Beijing, he added.

"In the end I feel good that I am not spending money that Brazil hasn't got," he said. "You can do something with heart, with concept, without spending."

The anticipation in tourist traps such as Copacabana Beach has reached a fever pitch. On the famed sidewalk, there are three ceremonial sandcastles commemorating Rio and the Olympics within five minutes of each other.

But a reminder of the undercurrent in this country presented itself Thursday at dusk. Within shouting distance of the Olympic Rings statue near the start of Copacabana, two young men sat on the ground handcuffed, surrounded by four Brazilian security officials.

Phelps may be the headliner for the American team that rings at 555 people, but the eyes of the world become glued to Rio for the first time Friday night.

"When one of our staff members told me [Tuesday] I was selected, I think I had the biggest smile on my face that you could possibly find," Phelps said Wednesday. "A little bit of emotion came over me. I probably shed a little bit of tears, just of joy. It's incredible."

The 18-time gold medalist adds another achievement to a storied career. But another test awaits Brazil at The Maracanã.

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

2016 Olympic Games

At Rio de Janeiro

Opening Ceremony

Friday, 5 p.m.

TV • NBC