Seoul Halloween crush: South Korean authorities say they had no ...

Seoul, South Korea CNN —

South Korean authorities said Monday they had no guidelines to handle the huge crowds that gathered for Halloween festivities in Seoul, as families in the country and around the world mourn the 156 victims of Saturday night’s crowd crush.

The crush took place in the narrow neon-lit alleyways of the popular nightlife district Itaewon, where witnesses described being unable to move or breathe as thousands of revelers stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a street no more than 4 meters (13 feet) wide.

Frantic families spent much of Sunday gathering at information centers where authorities compiled details of the dead and wounded, and contacting morgues and hospitals in a desperate attempt to locate missing relatives.

With all of the victims now identified, the panic has transformed to national grief as the country grapples with one of its worst-ever disasters – while parents overseas make arrangements for their deceased children in a foreign land.

A woman pays tribute at a memorial altar on October 31 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Official memorial altars were set up in central Seoul Monday, with photos showing crowds visiting to pay their respects. Many were in tears and holding white flowers; others knelt and bowed deeply to the altar.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, his wife, Kim Keon-hee, and top officials including the prime minister and Seoul mayor joined the mourners.

Many shops and businesses were closed to observe a week-long national period of mourning. Parts of central Seoul were nearly deserted – a highly unusual sight in the usually bustling capital that’s home to about 10 million people.

People also paid respects at a makeshift memorial in Itaewon, outside a subway station near the alley where the crush occurred. The station entrance is adorned with rows of flowers, and offerings such as handwritten notes, bottles of the Korean liquor soju and paper cups filled with drinks.

Among the mourners was a civic group of the bereaved families of the Sewol Ferry disaster, which killed 304 people – mostly teens on a school trip – when the vessel sank in 2014.

“As one who had suffered the same pain, my heart is torn and I’m rendered speechless,” one of the group’s members told reporters at the memorial, saying the families were saddened to see “a major disaster like this repeated.”

Questions about police numbers

Just down the street, the entrance to the alley had been cordoned off, with security personnel standing guard as forensic teams clad in white protective suits scoured the area, still littered with trash and debris.

Amid the grief, questions have emerged about the government’s handling of the incident and an apparent lack of crowd control before the tragedy.

One survivor, 22-year-old French exchange student Anne-Lou Chevalier, told CNN she passed out in the crowd after being “crushed” by fellow revelers. “At some point I had no air, and we were so crushed to other people that I couldn’t breathe at all. So, I just passed out,” Chevalier said.

Several eyewitnesses and survivors said they had seen few or no police officers in the area before the situation deteriorated.

Earlier on Sunday, the minister of the interior and safety said only a “normal” level of security personnel had been deployed to Itaewon because the crowd there did not seem unusually large – whereas a “considerable number” of police had been sent to another part of Seoul in response to expected protests.

Mourners pay tribute for victims of the deadly Halloween crowd surge in Seoul on October 31, 2022. Rebecca Wright/CNN

But – facing a backlash from Korean politicians and on social media – authorities seemed to change tack on Monday, saying they had deployed about 137 personnel to Itaewon that night, compared to about 30 to 70 personnel in previous years before the pandemic.

“For this time’s Halloween festival, because it was expected that many people would gather in Itaewon, I understand that it was prepared by putting in more police force than other years,” said Oh Seung-jin, director of the violent crime investigation division at the National Police Agency.

However, he admitted, “currently there is no separate preparation manual for such a situation where there is no organizer and a gathering of a crowd is expected.” Moreover, the police had been deployed not for crowd control – but for crime prevention and to prevent “various illegal activities.”

Kim Seong-ho, director of the disaster and safety management division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, echoed these comments, saying they did not have “guidelines or a manual” for such an “unprecedented situation.”

Victims emerge

The victims were mostly young people who had gone to Itaewon Saturday night, eager for South Korea’s first Halloween celebrations in years without Covid restrictions.

The death toll rose to 156 on Tuesday following the death of a critically injured woman in her 20s, Seoul police said. In total, 101 women and 55 men were killed.

Twelve of the victims were teenagers and more than 100 were in their 20s, according to authorities.

Among their number were 26 foreign nationals from countries including the United States, China, Iran, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, Norway, France, Russia, Austria, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

A further 149 people were injured, 33 seriously, including 15 foreign nationals.

Six students who attended schools in Seoul – one middle schooler and five high schoolers – were among the dead, as well as three teachers, said the Korean Ministry of Education.

Three South Korean military personnel were also among those killed, said a Korean Defense Ministry official.

Shin Ae-jin was a 24-year-old graduate killed in the crowd surge on Saturday, her father told CNN.

She had started working at McKinsey & Company in September. Ahead of this new phase of her life the family took a trip to Europe in July, he said.

“I traveled much with her from when she was young. We took many family trips together. We are a very happy family,” her father, Shin Jung-seob, a retired venture capitalist, told CNN.

“It’s sad that I won’t see her again but I feel I had a fulfilled life with her … She lived in happiness,” he said while receiving mourners at the Samsung Seoul Hospital’s funeral home in the capital.

“My daughter was always bright, had many dreams, and didn’t shy away from challenges. She lived as a high achiever.”

The father said that he plans to bury his daughter next to a tree, a practice called Sumokjang where the ashes of the deceased are put in a degradable container and buried, often in a cemetery plot. The family can then visit the tree and commemorate their loved one.

When asked why he’s choosing this type of burial, Shin said: “We wanted to remember her. A tree has life, so it grows on.”

Steven Blesi, 20, a college student from Marietta, Georgia. Courtesy family of Steven Blesi

Two American college students were identified – Steven Blesi from Georgia, and Anne Gieske from Kentucky – both in their junior year.

Blesi’s father, Steve Blesi, said his son had “always been an adventurer.” He was an Eagle Scout, liked basketball and wanted to learn multiple languages, he said.

“Maybe in a half hour before this tragedy event took place, I texted him in WhatsApp … ‘I know you’re out and about. Stay safe. I love you.’ And I never got a response back,” Steve said. “He had an incredibly bright future that is now gone.”

Dan Gieske, Anne’s father, said in a statement Sunday evening that the family was “completely devastated and heartbroken,” calling Anne “a bright light loved by all.”

Anne had been a nursing student studying abroad in Seoul this semester, said the president of the University of Kentucky.

Anne Gieske, a student at the University of Kentucky who died in the crowd crush in Seoul. Courtesy Beechwood Schools

The father of Mei Tomikawa, a 26-year-old Japanese exchange student who was killed in the crush, told Japanese public broadcaster NHK he was “prepared for the worst” when he couldn’t reach her.

She was studying Korean before starting school in Seoul, he said, speaking before traveling from Japan to South Korea on Monday.

“I tried calling her to warn her to be careful, but she never answered her phone,” he said, according to NHK. “She was a great daughter … I want to see my daughter as soon as possible.”

Grace Rached, an Australian woman killed in the crowd crush in Seoul, South Korea. Australia DFAT

The family of an Australian victim, Grace Rached, also released a statement on Monday describing her as “a talented film producer who was passionate about making a difference.”

“We are missing our gorgeous angel Grace who lit up a room with her infectious smile. Grace always made others feel important and her kindness left an impression on everyone she ever met. Grace always cared about others and she was loved by all,” the family wrote.

Authorities are now working with foreign embassies and families overseas, offering support with funeral arrangements. As the week goes on, more names and faces of those who died are likely to emerge, as the nation searches for answers as to how such a disaster – in an area known to be crowded on Halloween, with festivities weeks in the planning – could have unfolded.

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Pelé: What made Brazilian legend so great | CNN

CNN —

Born into poverty – he used to kick a grapefruit around Brazil’s Minas Gerais state – Pelé finished his career as arguably soccer’s greatest ever player.

He was that rarity; like Muhammad Ali, Pelé was a sports star, who transcended his sport.

The Brazilian brought joy and creativity to a sport often stuck in rigidity and personified o jogo bonito – “the beautiful game.”

“Pele changed everything,” wrote current Brazil international Neymar Jr. after Pelé’s death was announced.

“He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to Black people and especially. He gave visibility to Brazil.”

From dazzling as a 17-year-old in 1958 on his way to his first World Cup success to claiming the Golden Ball award as player of the 1970 World Cup as he won a third global title, “O Rei” (“The King”) achieved almost everything possible in the famous yellow and blue of Brazil.

And there were goals – lots of them.

Pelé scored 757 goals in 812 official matches for club and country. However, there is disagreement over just how many goals he scored in his career. According to Reuters, Brazil’s football association and Santos say Pelé scored 1,283 goals in 1,367 matches, though FIFA puts the number at 1,281 goals in 1,366 games.

But it wasn’t just the phenomenal number of goals he scored. As Neymar suggests, Pelé was also an artist on the pitch.

“Even if he did not use a brush, or a pen, but simply had a ball at his feet,” says CNN Sport’s Don Riddell.

"Before Pelé, '10' was just a number," wrote Brazil international Neymar Jr. in an Instagram post. "He is gone, but his magic will remain." Domicio Pinheiro/Agência Estado/AP

A master at work

The world first got a glimpse of Pelé at the 1958 World Cup.

“When we arrived in Sweden, no one knew what Brazil was. They know about Argentina … Uruguay. It was a surprise for us,” Pelé told CNN in 2016.

At the age of 17 years and seven months, Pelé became the youngest person to play in a World Cup, a record the Brazilian held until Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside took that landmark in 1982.

Almost 15 years after leaving the world agog at the 1958 World Cup, Pelé hung up his boots for the Seleção, bequeathing his nation the legacy as the most successful in World Cup history and the most feared team in international football.

Pelé hugs his teammate Vava after scoring the goal to take the score to 2-1 in the 1958 World Cup final. IBL/Shutterstock

Pelé’s crowning moment for Brazil came at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a tournament further romanticized by being the first World Cup broadcast in color.

Throughout that tournament, Pelé blazed a trail of technicolor splendor, a blur of yellow and gold, beguiling and bewitching opposition teams.

His four goals earned him player of the tournament, capped by an assist to Carlos Alberto’s breathtaking goal in the final against Italy.

“We won the World Cup, and I think in my life in sport (that was the pinnacle), no doubt,” Pelé told CNN.

Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich summed up Pelé’s superhuman genuis fittingly: “I told myself before the game, he’s made of skin and bones just like everyone else. But I was wrong.”

Pelé in action against Italy in the 1970 World Cup final. Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Even moments when Pelé didn’t score helped cement his legend status – notably England goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ incredible block from the Brazilian’s powerful header in a group game, which is widely considered to be the greatest save of all time.

“The save was one of the best I have ever seen – in real life and in all the thousands of games I have watched since,” wrote Pelé in a 2019 Facebook post in tribute to Banks following the goalkeeper’s death.

“When you are a footballer, you know straight away how well you have hit the ball. I hit that header exactly as I had hoped. Exactly where I wanted it to go. And I was ready to celebrate.

“But then this man, Banks, appeared in my sight, like a kind of blue phantom.”

Despite playing all but three years of his club career with Brazilian side Santos, Pelé’s dynamism, majesty with the ball and lethality in front of goal ensured he became one of football’s first Black global stars.

Pelé admitted to CNN in 2015 that he had plenty of interest from Europe to make the move across the Atlantic, but chose not to out of loyalty and “love” for Santos; yet another reason why he is so beloved in his native country.

“In the past, it was a profession filled with love, now it’s just a profession,” Pelé said.

“There isn’t that love of playing for my club, playing for my country. Clearly, a footballer needs to make a living from the game. It’s different from my time.”

Coping with pressure

Such was his impact as a soccer player, Pelé also became the symbol of a new country, according to a recent Neflix documentary.

“To cope with that, I think he creates this Pelé character, someone who almost kind of forgoes his own identity to become Brazil essentially,” Ben Nicholas, co-director of the documentary about the Brazilian’s life, told CNN.

As well as shouldering the burden of a country’s aspirations on the world stage, the ascension of the Brazilian military in 1964 that showed interest in football as a tactical and political strategy – in particular, targeting the 1970 World Cup as a “government issue” – presented a problem for the apolitical Pelé, according to the Netflix documentary.

“There’s a really telling line at the end of the film,” the other director of the documentary, David Tryhorn, said, “where you’re expecting Pelé to give us perhaps a ‘Pelé-ism,’ where he would talk about joy and happiness, but he actually talks about ‘relief.’”

Pelé poses with the World Cup trophy on March 9, 2014, in Paris. Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

The footballing GOAT debate is one which will rage on until the end of time – is it Pelé? Or is it Diego Maradona? Or Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?

But, Brazil’s pure love and adoration for Pelé cannot be matched and is one which extends further than just an excellent footballer, but to a totem pole for a nation.

Pelé buried at cemetery in Brazilian city he made famous

AP

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — Brazil said a final farewell to Pelé on Tuesday, burying the legend who unified the bitterly divided country.

Newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro, the stadium where Pelé played for most of his career.

Pelé died last week at age 82 and was laid to rest in Santos, the city where he became famous after moving there at age 15 to play for Santos FC. The funeral Mass was held at the team's Vila Belmiro stadium before his black casket was driven through the streets of the of Santos in a firetruck.

It was taken into the cemetery as bands played the team's official song and a Roman Catholic hymn. Before the golden-wrapped casket arrived, attendees sang samba songs that Pelé liked.

Some Brazilian soccer legends weren't there.

“Where’s Ronaldo Nazario? Where’s Kaká, where’s Neymar?" asked Claudionor Alves, 67, who works at a bakery next to the stadium. "Do they think they will be remembered like Pelé will? These guys didn’t want to stop their vacations, that’s the problem.”

Geovana Sarmento, 17, waited in a three-hour line to view Pelé's body as it lay in repose. She came with her father, who was wearing a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name.

“I am not a Santos fan, neither is my father. But this guy invented Brazil’s national team. He made Santos stronger, he made it big, how could you not respect him? He is one of the greatest people ever, we needed to honor him,” she said.

Caio Zalke, 35, an engineer, wore a Brazil shirt as he waited in the line.

“Pelé is the most important Brazilian of all time. He made the sport important for Brazil and he made Brazil important for the world,” Zalke said.

Pelé in the 1960s and 1970s was perhaps the world’s most famous athlete. He met presidents and queens, and a civil war in Nigeria was put on hold so people could watch him play. Many Brazilians credit Pelé with putting the country on the world stage for the first time.

Rows of shirts with Pelé’s No. 10 were placed behind one of the stadium's goals, waving in the city’s summer winds. A section of the stands filled up with bouquets of flowers placed by mourners and sent by clubs and star players — Neymar and Ronaldo among them — from around the world as loudspeakers played the song “Eu sou Pelé” (“I am Pelé”) recorded by him.

The crowd was mostly local, although some came from far away, and many mourners were too young ever to have seen Pelé play. The mood was light, as people filtered out of the stadium to local bars, wearing Santos FC and Brazil shirts.

Claudio Carrança, 32, a salesman, said: “I never saw him play, but loving Pelé is a tradition that goes from father to son in Santos. I learned his history, saw his goals, and I see how Santos FC is important because he is important. I know some Santos fans have children supporting other teams. But that’s just because they never saw Pelé in action. If they had, they would feel this gratitude I feel now.”

Among those at the stadium was Pelé’s best friend Manoel Maria, also a former Santos player.

“If I had all the wealth in the world I would never be able to repay what this man did for me and my family,” Maria said. “He was as great a man as he was as a player — the best of all time. His legacy will outlive us all. And that can be seen in this long line with people of all ages here.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists that every country should name a stadium after Pelé.

“I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles,” Infantino said. “As FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the ‘King’ and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.”

Another fan and friend in line was Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.

“It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country,” Mendes told journalists. “My office has shirts signed by Pelé, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him.”

Pelé had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he had been hospitalized said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.

Pelé led Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar tied Pelé’s record during this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Qatar 2022 World Cup winner Argentina returns home to a jubilant ...

Buenos Aires, Argentina CNN —

Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad arrived home to a jubilant Buenos Aires on Tuesday as millions of people lined the streets and celebrated their champions’ return.

On arriving in the country on Tuesday morning, team Captain Lionel Messi stepped off the plane first, holding the gold trophy aloft, followed by his triumphant team onto a red carpet at the airport.

As the team bus departed the airport, it was immediately swarmed by cheering supporters dressed in the national colors of blue and white. Videos show the bus inching forward slowly behind a police escort, surrounded by tens of thousands of people waving the Argentine flag and setting off firecrackers in the night.

The air was filled with cheers as the crowd sang and danced; the players, standing on the open top deck, waved to their adoring supporters.

The Argentina football team on a bus in Buenos Aires on December 20, surrounded by cheering fans. Mariana Nedelcu/Reuters

Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to take to the streets and celebrate. Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

Some 4 million people came out to see the victory parade in the capital, state media agency Télam reported, citing police. Tuesday had been declared a national holiday following the team’s thrilling penalty shootout victory over France in Qatar on Sunday.

The bus carrying the entire team was meant to make its way to the Obelisk, a historic monument in the center of Buenos Aires, but was not able to progress due to the swarming crowds, Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association said Tuesday.

Aerial view of fans of Argentina gathering at the Obelisk as they wait for the team's victory parade. Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images

Argentina players celebrate on the bus with the World Cup trophy during Tuesday's parade. Martin Villar/Reuters

“They won’t let us go to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us, won’t allow us to move forward,” Tapia said, “A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players.”

A helicopter including Messi, teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni flew over the crowds, police said Tuesday, soaring over the parade before being flown back to the the football association’s training site in Ezeiza, on the city’s outskirts.

The team will spend the night at the Argentine Football Association’s training facility, according to Télam.

Argentina fans celebrate the national team's arrival in Buenos Aires. Cristina Sille/Reuters

Crowds of supporters had camped out at the training site on Monday ahead of the team’s arrival, with photos showing fans spilling out of cars parked on its grounds. Some laid on blankets on the grass while others lounged on picnic chairs around coolers.

The team’s highly-anticipated return continues several days of nonstop celebration across the country and among fans overseas, following Argentina’s explosive win against France.

Lionel Messi leads the Argentina team as they step off the plane in Buenos Aires on December 20. Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

Argentina players wave from the top of a bus after their arrival in Buenos Aires. Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

Superstars Messi and Kylian Mbappé faced off on the pitch, in what has widely been called the greatest World Cup final of all time.

Mbappé was defending France’s 2018 win at the tournament in Russia, while 35-year-old Messi was playing in what may be his final World Cup match, looking to claim the trophy which had eluded him for so long.

Argentina took an early lead in the first half – but France roared back in the second half, reaching a 2-2 tie that forced the match into extra time.

Fans gather outside the Argentine Football Association's training ground ahead of the team's arrival. Mariana Nedelcu/Reuters

Argentina fans wave flags outside the national men's team training ground ahead of their arrival in Buenos Aires. Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images

Messi scored his second goal of the match to restore his team’s lead – but Mbappé scored a second penalty to grab his hat-trick and take the final to a penalty shootout, which ended with triumph for Argentina after France missed two shots.

Hundreds of thousands of people poured onto the streets of Buenos Aires after the World Cup triumph, flooding the central 9 de Julio Avenue. Social media videos showed jubilant fans climbing on top of street poles to wave the Argentine flag; others on the ground danced, sang and chanted in celebration.

Fans climbed up high to try and get a view of the Argentina bus. Cristina Sille/Reuters

The triumph in Doha was Argentina’s third World Cup win and its first since 1986, when the legendary Diego Maradona led the team to victory in Mexico.

Sunday’s win also marked a change in fortunes for Argentina after three recent defeats in major finals – the 2014 World Cup, and the Copa America in 2015 and 2016.

Fans gather in Buenos Aires on December 19. Mariana Nedelcu/Reuters

Those losses prompted Messi at one point to announce his retirement from international football – though the almost-unanimous national outcry convinced him to reverse track, before wining the Copa América in 2021.

Now, with the World Cup also under his belt, Messi has cemented his status as one of the all-time soccer greats alongside Maradona and Brazil’s Pelé.

People of all ages were able to celebrate as Tuesday was made a national holiday. Mariana Nedelcu/Reuters

“I cannot believe that we have suffered so much in a perfect game. Unbelievable, but this team responds to everything,” said Scaloni after the match Sunday, according to Reuters.

“I am proud of the work they did,” he added, fighting back tears as he was embraced by his players. “I want to tell people to enjoy, it’s a historic moment for our country.”

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Brazilians mourn Pelé at the stadium where he got his start

AP

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — Thousands of mourners, including high school students and supreme court justices, began filing past the body of Pelé on Monday on the century-old field where he made his hometown team one of Brazil's best.

The soccer great died on Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was the only player ever to win three World Cups, and he was 82.

Pelé's coffin, draped in the flags of Brazil and the Santos FC football club, was placed on the midfield area of Vila Belmiro, the stadium outside Sao Paulo that was his home for most of his career. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated there Tuesday morning before his burial at a nearby cemetery. Brazil's newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will come to Vila Belmiro shortly before Pelé's coffin is removed from the stadium.

The storied 16,000-seat stadium was surrounded by mourners, and covered with Pelé-themed decorations. Fans coming out of the stadium said they’d waited three hours in line, standing under a blazing sun.

Forty-five years after Pelé played his last game, he's still a central part of Brazil's national story.

Geovana Sarmento, 17, came with her father, who was wearing a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name.

“I am not a Santos fan, neither is my father. But this guy invented Brazil’s national team. He made Santos stronger, he made it big, how could you not respect him? He is one of the greatest people ever, we needed to honor him,” she said.

In the 1960s and 70s, Pelé was perhaps the world's most famous athlete. He met presidents and queens, and in Nigeria a civil war was put on hold to watch him play. Many Brazilians credit him with putting the country on the world stage.

Caio Zalke, 35, an engineer, also wore a Brazil shirt as he waited in line. “Pelé is the most important Brazilian of all time. He made soccer important for Brazil and he made Brazil important for the world,” he said.

Rows of shirts with Pelé’s number 10 were placed behind one of the goals, waving in the city’s summer winds. A section of the stands was filling up with bouquets of flowers placed by mourners and sent by clubs and star players — Neymar and Ronaldo among them — from around the world as loudspeakers played a song named “Eu sou Pelé” (“I am Pelé”) that was recorded by the Brazilian himself.

Claudio Carrança, 32, a salesman, said: “I never saw him play, but loving Pelé is a tradition that goes from father to son in Santos. I learned his history, saw his goals, and I see how Santos FC is important because he is important. I know some Santos fans have children supporting other teams. But that’s just because they never saw Pelé in action. If they had, they would feel this gratitude I feel now.”

Santos FC said that more than 1,100 journalists from 23 countries were at the funeral. Dignitaries and friends of Pelé in attendance spoke at the funeral.

Among them was Pelé’s best friend Manoel Maria, who is also a former Santos player. “If I had all the wealth in the world I would never be able to repay what this man did for me and my family. He was as great a man as he was as a player; the best of all time. His legacy will outlive us all. And that can be seen in this long line with people of all ages here.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists that every country should name a stadium after Pelé.

“I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles,” Infantino said. “As FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the ‘King’ and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence."

Another fan and friend in line was Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.

“It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country,” Mendes told journalists. “My office has shirts signed by Pelé, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him.”

Mendes also said Pelé was a humble man despite his global fame, and that he deserves every tribute.

The casket will be ushered through the streets of Santos before his burial Tuesday.

Pelé had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he had been hospitalized said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.

The soccer star led Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar tied Pelé's record during this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Seoul Halloween crush: South Korean authorities investigate after ...

Seoul, South Korea CNN —

South Korea is searching for answers after Halloween celebrations in the capital Seoul turned into one of the country’s worst disasters, with authorities declaring a national mourning period as they investigate how a chaotic crush left at least 151 people dead.

Tens of thousands of costumed partygoers – mostly teenagers and young adults – had poured into the popular nightlife neighborhood Itaewon to enjoy South Korea’s first Halloween celebration since it lifted Covid restrictions such as crowd limits and face mask rules.

But the festivities descended into chaos, with photos and videos on social media showing huge crowds crammed into a narrow alley. Eyewitnesses described partygoers being packed so tightly together it was difficult to move around or even breathe.

Before the crush, crowd numbers built in Seoul's popular nightclub district Itaewon, October 29, 2022. Courtesy Suah Cho

Suah Cho, 23, described walking through an alley when “suddenly, some people started pushing each other, and people were screaming.” The screaming went on for 15 minutes, she said, adding: “It was just panic.”

“Some people were going forward and some people were going backward, and then just they were pushing each other,” she added. She was able to escape into a building along the alley, where she watched the disaster unfold. She said some people had told her that “people were climbing the building to survive.”

Authorities are still investigating what caused the incident, but Choi Seong-bum, chief of the Yongsan-gu Fire Department, said it was a “presumed stampede” and that many people fell, injuring at least 82.

The dead included at least 19 foreign nationals, including people from Iran, Norway, China and Uzbekistan, he said. One Thai national is among the dead, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

Crowds are seen in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul on October 30, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

The chaos of Saturday turned into shock and grief across the country on Sunday. Many victims’ families have gathered at a nearby center in Itaewon, where officials are compiling the names of the dead and missing as they race to identify bodies.

So far, more than 90% of those killed have been identified, said Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min in a briefing on Sunday. He added that about 10 people can’t be identified because some are under the age of 17 – too young to carry a national ID card – and others are foreigners.

But many remain missing, with families left anxiously calling hospitals and visiting morgues. By 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, Seoul authorities had received more than 3,580 missing persons reports, said the city government.

Relatives of missing people weep at a community service center on October 30, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

One mother, Ahn Yeon-seon, told South Korean news agency Yonhap her 19-year-old daughter had gone out to celebrate with her boyfriend for one of their last dates before he left for mandatory military service.

Several hours after the couple left, her daughter’s boyfriend called crying, saying she had been “under a pile of people for over an hour and that he’d tried to pull her out but couldn’t,” Ahn said, according to Yonhap.

Since then, Ahn has been searching hospitals for her daughter, waiting for confirmation of what happened to her. “I’ll just keep searching,” she told Yonhap.

And, though the government has launched an investigation and promised new measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again, questions are emerging about how such a disaster could have occurred at all.

Cho, the 23-year-old who escaped the crush, said she saw no police or officials trying to control the crowd before the crush began. Even after they arrived later in the night, the sense of confusion and panic continued.

“The police officer was screaming, but we couldn’t really tell that was a real police officer because so many people were wearing costumes,” she said. “People were literally saying, ‘Are you a real police officer?’”

Investigation and recovery

Authorities received the first emergency calls of people being “buried” in crowds at 10:24 p.m. in Seoul (9:24 a.m. ET). As the news broke, Yonhap reported that some people had suffered from “cardiac arrest,” with others reporting “difficulty breathing.”

However, officials said there were no gas leaks or fires on site.

Lee Sang-min, Seoul’s interior and safety minister, said on Sunday that “a considerable number of police and security forces” had been deployed to another part of Seoul on Saturday to deal with protests there.

Meanwhile in Itaewon, the crowd had not been unusually large, he said, so only a “normal” level of security forces had been deployed there.

But as the disaster unfolded, it prompted a massive response. More than 1,700 emergency response forces were dispatched on Saturday night, including 517 firefighters, 1,100 police officials, and about 70 government workers.

Social media videos showed police had taped off an area where people were performing compressions on other partygoers lying on the ground as they waited for medical help. Others showed people dressed in Halloween costumes lying on the street and on stretchers as first responders rendered aid and ambulances lined up to take away the injured.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting in the early hours of Sunday, and later visited the scene to receive briefings from emergency officials.

Addressing the nation, he called a national period of mourning “until the handling of the accident is concluded.” Prime Minister Han Duck-soo later said the period of mourning would end at midnight of November 5.

“A tragedy that should not have happened occurred in the middle of Seoul last night on Halloween,” Yoon said. “I pray for those who died in an unexpected accident and hope that the injured will recover quickly.”

He also said the disaster would be investigated, with measures put into place to ensure similar incidents never happen again.

“We will have relevant ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety conduct emergency inspections not only for Halloween events but also for local festivals and thoroughly manage them so they are conducted in an orderly and safe manner,” Yoon said, adding that a “multi-purpose emergency system” would support both the injured and the families of the dead.

Video Ad Feedback This narrow street was the scene of deadly incident in Seoul 02:16 - Source: CNN

Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the government would provide a fund for families of the deceased and injured. It will operate “a funeral support team and respond fully to the treatment of the injured,” and provide psychological treatment for those affected, he said.

The government will also “actively consult with diplomatic offices to ensure there is no shortage of support,” Han said.

“Our country has a history of overcoming disasters with all citizens united in one mind,” he said, adding: “I earnestly ask all the people to join so that we can overcome sorrow and rise again.”

The government has declared the district of Yongsan-gu, where Itaewon is located, a special disaster area.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would set up a joint memorial altar at Seoul Plaza Monday morning, with another joint memorial altar in Itaewon.

Foreign nationals among the dead

People fly into Seoul from all over Asia to celebrate Halloween in Itaewon, and this year’s event was seen as a welcome return of festivities after the pandemic. Hotels and ticketed events in the neighborhood had been booked solid ahead and large crowds were expected.

One eyewitness, Sung Sehyun, said the space was like a “jammed subway,” and that he had to push his way through the throng earlier in the night to get clear of the busy streets.

“I was lucky to get through (but an) hour later, I heard people got killed. Because people got stamped on … and people got jammed together,” he said

Juliette Kayyem, a disaster management expert and national security analyst for CNN, said the city’s density – and how common crowds are in Seoul – may have played a role in the tragedy.

Rescue teams work at the scene where dozens of people were injured during a Halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea, October 29, 2022. Kim Hong-ji/Reuters

“People in Seoul are used to being in packed spaces, it’s possible they might not have been fully alarmed by the packed streets,” she said. “Panic is always a factor, and there is a danger of being too used to being in crowded spaces.”

It’s hard to pinpoint what might have triggered the crush – but authorities “would have anticipated high numbers … before Saturday night,” she added. “There is a responsibility on the part of the authorities to be monitoring crowd volume in real time, so they can sense the need to get people out.”

Around the world, leaders sent their condolences to South Korea and those affected by the disaster.

“Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul,” US President Joe Biden wrote in a statement. “We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured.”

Emergency services treat injured people on October 30, 2022, in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

The United States government is ready to provide South Korea with “any support it needs,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan wrote on Twitter Saturday. One US citizen was injured in the crush, authorities said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “All our thoughts are with those currently responding and all South Koreans at this very distressing time.” In tweet written in French and Korean, President Emmanuel Macron said “France is by your side.”

Itaewon, once shunned by locals as a seedy, red light district, has transformed into one of Seoul’s top party venues. Known for its nightlife and trendy restaurants, the neighborhood comes to life at night.

It is also home to Seoul’s thriving Muslim and gay communities, and is located near a US army base.

Gawon Bae Paula Hancocks Sophie Jeong Jessie Yeung Will Ripley

The best photos of the 2022 World Cup | CNN

Lionel Messi holds up the World Cup trophy after Argentina defeated France in the tournament final on Sunday, December 18.

Produced by CNN Digital's Photo Team

What a match.

After a dramatic penalty shootout, Argentina defeated France on Sunday to win its first World Cup since 1986.

It was a final for the ages, with momentum swinging both ways throughout a pulsating 120 minutes that ended 3-3. Gonzalo Montiel scored the penalty that clinched the title.

It is the crowning achievement for Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who said this would be the last World Cup game of his remarkable career. Messi, who is widely considered to be one of the sport's all-time greatest players, scored two goals in the final and was awarded the Golden Ball.

France star Kylian Mbappé had a hat trick for France, pulling his team back from a 2-0 halftime deficit and a 3-2 deficit in extra time.

The final was held at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. This was the first time in history that a World Cup was held in the Middle East, and it was the first time it had taken place in an Islamic country.

This year's tournament was also mired in controversy, with much of the buildup focusing on human rights, from the death of migrant workers and the conditions many have endured in Qatar, to LGBTQ and women's rights in the country.

The World Cup has always been held in either May, June or July, but this one was moved to November and December because of the hot climate in Qatar.

Ottawa police chief is stepping down, city officials say amid ongoing ...

CNN —

Amid ongoing protests against Canada’s Covid-19 regulations, officials in Canada’s capital and the police chief have reached a separation agreement, according to the chairperson of the police services board.

“Peter Sloly and the Ottawa Police Services Board reached a mutually agreeable separation and as such Chief Peter Sloly is no longer employed with the Ottawa Police Service,” board chair Diane Deans said during a meeting Tuesday afternoon.

While Deans thanked Sloly for his service, she opened the meeting by saying that police were so far unable to achieve peace in the city.

“The OPS (Ottawa Police Service) has been unable to adequately enforce our laws and our residents continue to be terrorized. It isn’t good enough,” Deans said, adding, “I have watched in disbelief as this carnival of chaos has been allowed to continue.”

Deputy Chief Steve Bell is now the interim chief. Deans said the board would implement a new command structure and would shortly appoint a new chief.

Sloly released a statement on social media, saying he was stepping down and had done everything he could to keep Ottawa safe. The department has added resources, enforcement tools and has a new Integrated Command Center, he said.

“I am confidant the Ottawa Police Service is now better positioned to end this occupation,” he said.

Sloly had said enforcement has been complex and delicate, pointing out that families are embedded within the protesters. The chief had said repeatedly he did not have enough resources to deal with such a large protest.

Residents have told CNN they were dismayed by the chief’s lack of enforcement on their city streets.

The news comes a day after Canada invoked the country’s Emergencies Act for the first time in an attempt to sever financial support for protesters’ costly blockades at US border crossings.

Financial institutions will now have the power to freeze personal or corporate accounts they believe are being used to fund the illegal protests, Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland said Monday.

“This is about following the money. This is about stopping the financing of these illegal blockades,” Freeland said.

The government will use the law to target those funding protesters who have blocked border crossings – resulting in economic losses of as much as $500 million a day, she said.

Protesters and police face each other as police move in to clear downtown Ottawa of protesters on Saturday, February 19. Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP A truck is towed away in front of Ottawa's Parliament Hill on February 19. Patrick Doyle/Reuters Police clear downtown Ottawa on February 19. Alex Kent/Getty Images A protester's eyes are washed out after being affected by a chemical irritant fired by police on February 19. Alex Kent/Getty Images People show their support for a trucker as he leaves downtown Ottawa on February 19. Patrick Doyle/Reuters A police officer watches as a truck leaves Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, February 18. Andrej Ivanov/AFP/Getty Images Police officers form a line as they push back protesters on February 18. Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP Mounted police move in to disperse protesters on February 18. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP A man prepares a truck for towing in Ottawa on February 18. Blair Gable/Reuters A man is detained by police as protesters and supporters gather in downtown Ottawa on Thursday, February 17. Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP From left, protest leaders Eddie Stewart Cornell, Vincent Gircys and Daniel Bulford attend a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 16. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images A police officer holds up a flyer that was being distributed to protesters in Ottawa on February 16. Police said they may arrest anyone blocking streets or assisting someone who is doing so. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP Trucks and protesters block downtown streets near Canada's Parliament on Tuesday, February 15. Scott Olson/Getty Images A truck convoy departs Coutts, Alberta, after blocking the highway at the US border crossing on Tuesday, February 15. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press/AP Truck drivers block traffic outside Canada's Parliament on Monday, February 14. Ted Shaffrey/AP Police gather to clear protesters who blocked the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, on Sunday, February 13. The Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest land border crossing, reopened Sunday. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images A demonstrator stands atop a truck holding a Canadian flag during a protest outside the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on February 12. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images A demonstrator lets off a firework during a protest outside Parliament in Ottawa on February 12. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images Truck drivers and others protest Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in Ottawa on February 12. Ted Shaffrey/AP Protesters heading out of and into Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York, honk their horns as they head toward the Peace Bridge on February 12. One holds a bobblehead doll of former President Donald Trump out his window while stopped in traffic. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/AP A demonstrator shouts during a protest outside Parliament on February 11. Canada's Ontario province declared a state of emergency over the trucker-led protests paralyzing the capital and blocking trade with the United States. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images A protester wears Canadian flags on her head during a protest outside Parliament on February 11. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images The Ambassador Bridge closing slowed supplies to US automakers. It also caused major traffic jams, such as this one, which diverted vehicles to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, on February 9. Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press/AP Supporters wave flags as a convoy of trucks moves through Toronto on February 5. Cole Burston/Getty Images A protester walks to a demonstration in Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 5. Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Counterprotesters gather at Terminal Avenue to block a convoy of protesters in Vancouver on February 5. Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Supporters of the protesters pass by a honking truck near Queen's Park in Toronto on February 5. Cole Burston/Getty Images A protester holds up a wanted poster of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as protesters gather around Queen's Park in Toronto on February 5. Steve Russell/Toronto Star/Getty Images Trucks parked in downtown Ottawa continue to protest Covid-19 mandates on February 4. Dave Chan/AFP/Getty Images A protester requests that police let trucks come close to Queen's Park during a protest at the park to support the truckers and denounce the government's vaccination policy. Arindam Shivaani/NurPhoto/Getty Images Trucks from the so-called Freedom Convoy block downtown streets during a demonstration in Ottawa on February 3. David Kawai/Bloomberg/Getty Images A protester stands with a Canadian flag in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Lines of trucks block the US-Canada border during a demonstration in Coutts, Alberta, on February 2. Gavin John/Bloomberg/Getty Images Truck drivers and supporters protest in Ottawa on January 31. Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images A child in Ottawa holds a sign comparing Covid-19 regulations to Nazi Germany on January 30. Alex Kent/Getty Images Supporters arrive at Parliament Hill to protest on January 29. Hundreds of truckers drove their giant rigs into the Canadian capital. Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images Protesters party as a firework explodes in front of Parliament Hill during a rally in Ottawa on January 29. Alex Kent/Getty Images A supporter of the Freedom Convoy protests Covid-19 mandates in Ottawa on January 29. Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images A man holds a firework during a protest in Ottawa on January 29. Alex Kent/Getty Images Supporters of the truckers gather near a highway overpass outside of Toronto on January 27. Cole Burston/AFP/Getty Images Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests Prev Next

On Monday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized long guns, body armor and high-capacity magazines tied to a group within the protest in Coutts, Alberta, it said.

And now the US is closely coordinating with Canada to share information on people who might try to participate in blockades, Canadian Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino told CNN.

“The United States is monitoring carefully the blockades in Canada and what we agreed is that we could continue to share information and to advance the very close collaboration that exists between our CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) and the (US) Customs and Border Patrol, so that we can identify any potential individuals who may trying to cross the border to advance illegal blockades in Canada,” Mendicino said.

The public safety minister has been in regular contact with US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas he said.

“Given the current moment that we’re in … we’re obviously going to do what we can to bring about the end of these illegal blockades,” Mendicino said.

An unprecedented move

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he was invoking the Emergencies Act for the first time since it became law in 1988 to blunt the impact of the trucker-inspired protests.

The rallies began when a group of truckers moved into Canada’s capital on January 29, clogging streets surrounding the Parliament building and elsewhere in downtown Ottawa to protest a new mandate requiring them to be fully vaccinated when crossing the Canadian-US border or face a two-week quarantine.

They have been joined in Ottawa and at border stops and cities across the nation by others who want an end to other Covid-19 mitigation measures, like mask mandates, lockdowns and restrictions on gatherings.

But the protesters are a vocal minority. About four in every five Canadians are fully vaccinated and nearly 90% of Canada’s truckers are fully vaccinated and eligible to cross the border, the government said.

“These illegal barricades are doing great damage to Canada’s economy and to our reputation as a reliable trading partner,” Freeland said.

The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, which was cleared Sunday, impacted about $390 million worth of commerce a day, the minister said. The combined impact of blockades at border crossings, including those in Alberta and Manitoba, has been $500 million each day, Freeland said.

“These costs are real. They threaten businesses, big and small,” Freeland said. “The Canadian economy needs (truckers) to be doing legitimate work, not to be illegally making us all poorer.”

In addition to allowing financial institutions to freeze accounts suspected of funding illegal protests, Canada is also requiring crowdfunding sites and payment service providers used by protesters to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and report any large suspicious donations – including digital payments and with cryptocurrencies. Some sites have raised millions of dollars.

While the Emergencies Act allows for the use of the military, the government will not take that step, Trudeau said Monday.

The measure can also temporarily suspend citizens’ rights to free movement or assembly, but Trudeau said the government is not overriding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms – a part of the Canadian Constitution that lays out “rights and freedoms that Canadians believe are necessary in a free and democratic society,” according to a Canadian government website.

“We are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally,” Trudeau said. The law will be limited geographically, in scope and in time, he noted.

Ambassador Bridge owner issues ‘call to action’

The reopening of the Ambassador Bridge was “a win for Michigan’s working families who are just trying to do their jobs and for businesses who can get back to shipping their products and produce,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Monday.

The bridge is the busiest land border crossing in North America, linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. It carries nearly 30% of annual trade between Michigan and Canada, Whitmer said.

That blockade, which caused supply chain issues for automakers on both sides of the border, ended when Canadian authorities cleared pedestrians and vehicles that had been blocking access to the bridge over the weekend.

Whitmer thanked US and Canadian border officials and business leaders for their work in resolving the ordeal and said it was important to “ensure that this does not happen again.”

The company that owns the bridge echoed that sentiment and issued a “call to action” to prevent future closures.

“We must join together to come up with an actionable plan that will protect and secure all border crossings in the Canada/U.S. corridor and ensure that this kind of disruption to critical infrastructure will never happen again,” said Matt Moroun, the chairman of Detroit International Bridge Company.

“They are critical pipelines that supply the goods we need to keep our factories going, our neighbors working and our economies thriving.”

In Manitoba, the RCMP said Tuesday that protesters are expected to be gone by Wednesday, the result of a resolution reached with the demonstrators.

Chief Superintendent Rob Hill said officials were confident protesters would depart and that full access to the Emerson border crossing will be restored.

But the standoff at the Coutts border crossing in Alberta took a turn Monday.

Eleven people were arrested, and authorities seized 13 long guns, handguns, multiple sets of body armor, a machete and a large quantity of ammunition and high-capacity magazines connected to a small, organized group within a larger protest at the crossing, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

“The group was said to have a willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade,” the statement said. “This resulted in an immediate and complex investigation to determine the extent of the threat and criminal organization.”

Ontario to loosen pandemic restrictions

While protests continue in parts of Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he plans to lift the province’s vaccine passport requirements March 1 if hospitalization rates continue to improve.

Capacity limits will also be eliminated in all indoor public settings starting March 1, though masking requirements in Ontario will remain in effect “just a little bit longer,” Ford said Monday.

But the loosening of pandemic restrictions has nothing to do with the protests, the premier said.

“Let me be very clear: We’re moving in this direction because it’s safe to do so,” Ford said Monday. “Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor, but despite it.”

He also vowed “serious consequences” for those who cause disruptions while demonstrating in Ontario.

“To those who are still there, to those of you who are there with the sole objective of causing disruption and chaos, there’ll be serious consequences for this lawless activity,” Ford said.

“We will continue to raise the consequences against those who are holding millions of jobs and people hostage.”

Kelly Mccleary Holly Yan
Kelly Mccleary
Holly Yan

The Latest: De Lima lights the Olympic cauldron

AP

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Latest on the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games opening ceremony (all times local):

11:54 p.m.

Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei De Lima has lit the cauldron at the Rio Games.

De Lima was one of the suspected candidates after Pele revealed earlier Friday that health problems would keep him from attending the opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium.

So 12 years later than he likely would have, De Lima got his golden moment.

De Lima was leading the 2004 race at the Athens Games when a protester attacked and disrupted his run. De Lima wound up finishing third, but has been lauded for how he's handled the incident.

Gustavo Kuerten carried the torch into the stadium, then handed it to Brazilian basketball legend Hortencia Marcari. She brought it to the stage, then De Lima brought it up the stairs and held it aloft for 60,000 to cheer.

With that, the cauldron — one unlike any other in Olympic history — was lighted.

Brazilian officials wanted this cauldron smaller than most, a reminder to reduce global warming caused by fossil fuels and greenhouse gases. The flame is housed in a giant sculpture, with spirals to represent the sun.

___

11:40 p.m.

The first recipient of the Olympic Laurel asked the athletes of the Rio Games to follow him and help support the youth of the world.

Kip Keino, a two-time Olympic champion who went on to open an orphanage in his native Kenya, gave a heartfelt speech at the opening ceremony of the Rio Games on Friday night.

He thanked his supporters, then told the athletes inside Maracana Stadium that he had a humble request.

Keino said, "Join me and support all the youth of this world to get the basics of humanity: food, shelter and education. Education not only empowers our youth to be better citizens and leaders of the future, but it will also help them make a positive change and a mighty difference."

Change for good was a major theme of the opening.

With green Olympic rings and white kites, organizers of the Rio Games tried to stress two very important messages at the opening ceremony: Take better care of the planet, and each other.

Once the Brazilian delegation entered Maracana Stadium to end the parade of nations at the opening, rings carrying seeds and soil were moved into the Olympic five-ring shape — and displayed in green in a reference to transplanting depleted forests, not the traditional colors of the games.

Not long afterward, the "dove of peace" was flown, only in this case instead of a bird it was 200 white kites. The kites were taken to Kenya and given to children who had never played with ones before. They wrote messages of peace on them, and then the kites were taken back to Rio to be flown by children in Brazil.

___

11:35 p.m.

Brazilian sailing Olympian Robert Scheidt has taken the athletes' oath, on behalf of all competitors at the Rio Games.

The oath reads: "In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."

Also, Martinho Nobre took a similar oath on behalf of all judges who will oversee competition in Rio over the next two-plus weeks, and Adriana Santos recited an oath for all the coaches involved in these games.

The oath has been taken by an athlete before every Olympics since 1920. Past oath-takers include the American grandfather-grandson duo of speedskater Jack Shea (1932, in his native Lake Placid) and skeleton competitor Jimmy Shea (2002, before the Salt Lake Games). The Sheas are part of the first family with three generations of Olympians, and both Jack Shea and Jimmy Shea won gold medals after taking the oath.

___

11:30 p.m.

Brazil's Interim President has been booed as he spoke to help open the Rio Games.

Michel Temer spoke for only a few seconds, and as he sat back down he was roundly booed by many of the 60,000 or so fans inside Maracana Stadium for the opening ceremony on Friday night.

A short blast of fireworks followed Temer's remarks, in part to drown out the booing.

Temer took over following the suspension in May of President Dilma Rousseff on impeachment charges. Rousseff was not at the opening ceremony.

___

11:20 p.m.

In the U.S., NBC is facing social media criticism for its decision to delay the broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremony so it can be shown in prime time in all time zones.

Frequent commercial breaks including eight within the first 65 minutes of the ceremony also proved frustrating for time-shifting viewers accustomed to fast-forwarding through ads.

NBC began its telecasting of the festivities an hour after they begin in Rio on Friday night. On the U.S. West Coast, the telecast of the opening ceremony wasn't set to start for another hour.

NBC also didn't start streaming the event through its app or Olympics website until the television coverage began, and streamers had to authenticate their account with a cable or satellite service.

The network usually plays a cat-and-mouse game to prevent other websites from streaming the event. It remains to be seen how successful it will be.

___

11:15 p.m.

The President of the International Olympic Committee says these Rio Games will promote peace.

Thomas Bach spoke not long after the parade of athletes into Maracana Stadium was completed on Friday night. Bach says all Brazilians "can be very proud tonight," then went on to talk about the importance of these Olympics.

Bach said, "We are living in a world of crises, mistrust and uncertainty. Here is our Olympic answer: The 10,000 best athletes in the world, competing with each other, at the same time living peacefully together in one Olympic Village, sharing their meals and their emotions."

Bach added that in this Olympic world, "we are all equal" — words that were met with applause.

He went on to ask the athletes to "respect yourself, respect each other, respect the Olympic Values which make the Olympic Games unique for you and for the entire world."

Bach concluded his remarks by presenting the Olympic Laurel to Kipchoge Keino, a two-time gold medalist from Kenya who went on to open an orphanage in his homeland.

Bach's speech was preceded by one from Rio Organizing Committee President Carlos Nuzman, who said "a new world is born today."

___

10:51 p.m.

They saved the best ovation for last.

With fans chanting in unison, Brazil has entered the opening ceremony for the Rio Games and was welcomed with long and loud cheers from the 60,000 or so inside Maracana Stadium. The host nation always enters last, and the Brazilians were immediately preceded by another crowd favorite — the 10-person Refugee Team, which is competing under the Olympic flag.

Modern pentathlete Yane Marques carried the Brazilian flag in to lead her country's designation.

___

10:45 p.m.

Years from now, organizers of the Rio Games hope there's 11,000 new trees in Brazil — one for each athlete at the Rio Games.

Each Olympian who entered the opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium on Friday night was given a seed and a cartridge of soil, which was to be placed in mirror towers all over the stage floor. Those cartridges will be taken to Deodoro and form what will be called the Athletes' Forest.

There's 207 species of trees being planted, one for each delegation at the games. It's all part of a massive sustainability and environmental awareness effort at these Olympics.

____

10:35 p.m.

For many nations, the Olympics are a regular occurrence.

For Kosovo and South Sudan, this is a first.

They marched into the opening ceremony of an Olympics for the first time Friday night, making their debut at the Rio Games. Kosovo was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 2014; South Sudan was recognized last year.

Kosovo's flag was carried by judo athlete Majlinda Kelmendi, who competed for Albania at the London Games four years ago. Kelmendi won a world title while competing in Rio in 2013.

After entering the stadium, Kelmendi said "it is a historical moment for my country and for me. It is very motivating for me."

Kosovo sent eight athletes to Rio. South Sudan, which had marathoner Guor Marial carry its flag, has a three-athlete team. Marial competed in London as an independent athlete.

___

10:30 p.m.

A smaller Russian team has arrived at the opening ceremony.

A state-sponsored doping program led to the exclusion of many would-be Olympians in Rio and threatens the medals that Russia won in recent past Olympics.

The World Anti-Doping Agency recommended Russia's exclusion from the Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee didn't go along. The IOC asked individual sports federations to review doping histories of Russian athletes, and less than 24 hours before the opening ceremony, the IOC was finalizing the list of eligible Russian athletes.

___

10:20 p.m.

Tony Parker is making no effort to hide how much he's enjoying this opening ceremony.

The San Antonio Spurs star — and French point guard at the Rio Games — says the Olympics are "one of the greatest and biggest sports events in the world."

On the floor of Maracana Stadium after the French walked into the opening Friday night, Parker said it was "just an unbelievable feeling to be able to be here to represent my country."

Parker is one of 46 active NBA players in these games.

___

10:15 p.m.

Which countries are getting the warmest reception during the parade of nations?

Latin countries, Italy, France, Japan and the United States got the biggest cheer from the crowd at Maracana Stadium at the opening ceremony of the Rio Games.

Colombia is a neighboring country with plenty of supporters in Rio. Italy and Japan are two of the biggest communities that immigrated to Brazil. The American team also has a lot of support. Spain, Mexico and South Africa also got a big cheer from the crowd.

Argentina, Brazil's eternal rivals in soccer, got a mixed reaction.

Of course, the loudest cheer will be saved for last — when Brazil enters.

___

10:05 p.m.

Jamaica is at the opening ceremony. Usain Bolt is not.

The two-time defending champion in the Olympic 100- and 200-meter races, as expected, skipped the opening ceremony for the Rio Games on Friday night. Bolt announced his decision earlier in the day.

Friday was the fourth anniversary of Bolt winning the gold in the 100 at the London Games.

___

9:51 p.m.

Archer Zahra Nemati had a big smile and a wave for the crowd as she carried Iran's flag into the opening ceremony in her wheelchair.

Nemati is competing at the Olympics and Paralympics, where she's a defending gold medalist.

She was a black belt in taekwondo before a car accident paralyzed her as a teenager. She picked up archery a few years later because she wanted to compete in a sport.

Earlier Friday, she competed in archery's qualifying round at the Sambadrome. She shot 72 arrows and accumulated a score of 609 — good enough for 49th position.

She's competing to "make my family and the people around me happy, and let them know I'm OK and I'm strong."

___

9:45 p.m.

Andy Murray has Olympic gold, two Wimbledon titles, a U.S. Open crown and is currently the No. 2 player in the world.

But even for someone with his resume, Friday night stood out.

Murray was the flagbearer for Britain at the opening ceremony for the Rio Games, and says it will go down as "the proudest moment of my professional career."

Murray will play both singles and doubles in Rio, the latter alongside his brother Jamie.

Murray says he's been blown away by the flagbearer title, noting that "it doesn't get much bigger than a chance to lead out your country."

The British team got a big ovation from the crowd in Rio, as did the French team when it entered moments earlier. French President Francois Hollande was in the crowd, cheering for his nation's athletes as they walked past.

___

9:35 p.m.

After 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall in his storied Olympic career, Michael Phelps has finally entered an opening ceremony.

The flagbearer for the U.S. has led the contingent of red, white and blue-clad American athletes into Maracana Stadium, after being picked for that distinction earlier this week.

More than 500 Americans are on the Olympic team, though as was the case with Phelps in past years, not all of them marched in the opening. Phelps' competition schedule kept him from attending the first four openings of his Olympic career, and many athletes from around the world — if they're competing on Saturday — tend to pass on the ceremony.

The U.S. women's soccer team wasn't at the stadium because of their schedule and how far they are from the opening, but planned on having their own private ceremony of sorts. Players were set to wear their ceremony uniforms and essentially pretend marching, as if they were in Rio.

Athletes spend hours on their feet at the opening and often get to their beds well past midnight, not exactly the best situation for athletes looking to perform their best a day later.

Phelps said in the days leading up to the opening that he wants to "take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it's about so much more than medals."

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9:20 p.m.

Given the water woes leading up to the Rio Games, sailing has had more than its share of problems going into these Olympics.

But at the opening ceremony, some of the sport's best will be on display — no woes to be found.

There's 13 flagbearers at the opening ceremony from sailing, which is more than the sport had at the Beijing Games and the London Games combined.

They are Sofia Bekatorou of Greece, Nicole Van der Velden of Aruba, Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus, Karl Martin Rammo of Estonia, Tuuli Petaja-Siren of Finland, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke of New Zealand, Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia, Gintare Scheidt of Lithuania (the wife of popular Brazilian sailing star Robert Scheidt), Joao Rodrigues of Portugal, Rodney Govinden of Seychelles, Dolores Moreira of Uruguay and Cy Thompson of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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9:10 p.m.

President Barack Obama says the Olympic Games build a sense of "common humanity" as countries pursue the ideal of sending their best to compete "in a spirit of goodwill."

Obama spoke to NBC ahead of the opening of the Rio Games.

The president says people know that the Olympic Games are not going to end war, eliminate poverty or stop the tragedies that occur daily around the world. Yet, he says, the Games contribute to a "sense of empathy."

Obama says coverage of the events also tells stories of individual athletes working hard to achieve a high level of competition. He says telling such stories "transports you into another place."

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9 p.m.

Germany was one of the first teams to enter the opening ceremony, much to the delight of one fan in particular.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach — a 1976 gold medalist in fencing for his native country — stood and waved with both hands as the Germans walked into Maracana Stadium.

Smiling broadly throughout, Bach remained standing until the entire contingent was inside the stadium.

These are the first summer games Bach has presided over. He became IOC president in 2013.

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8:50 p.m.

The parade of nations has started, and as always Greece is leading off. Two-time Olympic sailing medalist Sofia Bekatorou is the flagbearer.

Though most nations at an Olympic Games enter the opening ceremony in alphabetical order, there are exceptions. Greece goes first given its role as the birthplace of the Olympics. The host nation enters last, meaning Brazil will be waiting until the end of the parade to make its grand entrance. (In 2004, when Athens hosted the Olympics, the Greek athlete delegation entered last as well).

Another quirk for the opening is that the local language is used to alphabetize, meaning Portuguese this year.

So the United States of America — 198th in English alphabetical order out of the 207 participating teams — will enter 69th, since in Brazil the country's name translates to Estados Unidos da America.

If form from past games holds true, the parade of athletes should take slightly less than two hours.

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8:45 p.m.

Brazil's long, proud musical history is on full display in this high-energy start to the opening ceremony for the Rio Games.

From funk to samba to hip-hop, it's all being featured as the opening builds toward the entrance of athletes from around the world. Among the featured artists: Ludmilla, Cristian Do Passinho, Lelezinha, Elza Soares, Marcelo D2 and Karol Conka.

Video screens around Maracana Stadium are showing some of the lyrics, mostly in Portuguese, as fireworks go off and dancers clad in huge multi-colored wigs and red, yellow, white and orange outfits perform on the stadium floor.

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8:35 p.m.

It's been a source of long debate in Brazil about who invented the airplane.

Most people say the Wright Brothers.

In Brazil, they say Alberto Santos Dumont is the inventor — and that the Wright Brothers actually invented a "jumping machine." To pay homage to Dumont, a small plane appeared in the stadium during the portion of the opening ceremony that showed where Brazil began modernizing.

The plane's appearance only lasted for a few seconds.

The next big part of the show got much bigger cheers — that being Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen from one end of the stadium floor to another in a shimmering gown.

As she walked, "The Girl From Ipanema" blared through the stadium.

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8:25 p.m.

President Barack Obama says he's ready to cheer on the U.S. Olympians.

In a tweet on Friday night, not long after the opening ceremony started in Rio de Janeiro, the nation's first fan wrote "Our team's unity and diversity makes us so proud — and reminds the world why America sets the gold standard."

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8:20 p.m.

All Olympic opening ceremonies tend to pay homage to the host country's past, and this one is no different.

An image of a Pau-Brasil tree — the wood that gave its name to the country — digitally appeared on the floor of Maracana Stadium a few minutes into the start of Friday night's opening ceremony for the Rio Games, as if in the Amazon rainforest.

It's the country's national tree, has been on the list of threatened Brazilian plants and it's illegal to cut the few trees that remain.

Brazil was thick forest when first inhabited more than 500 years ago, and organizers thought that was the logical place to begin the ceremony.

Even some of the most subtle things at the opening have a meaning. The curved shape of the stages used in the ceremony are a nod to Oscar Niemeyer, a key figure in Brazilian architecture.

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8:10 p.m.

The unofficial anthem of Rio de Janeiro is being featured prominently as the opening ceremony gets underway.

The song "Aquele Abraco" — which translates to "That Hug" — by Grammy winner Gilberto Gil played a role in both the closing ceremony of the London Games four years ago and in Brazil's bid for these Rio Games.

The song was the soundtrack for the opening video, which started precisely at 8 p.m. in Rio.

Gil is credited for helping revolutionize Brazilian music in the 1960s. He wrote Aquele Abraco not as a celebration piece, but as his farewell to Rio. He was jailed in 1968 after angering Brazil's military dictatorship and lived in exile in London from 1969 through 1972.

The first line of the song : "Rio de Janeiro is still beautiful."

From there, fireworks blasted from the top of the stadium and the Brazilian national anthem quickly followed. Among the most generally cited lyrics to the song are these: "Giant by thine own nature, thou art beautiful, thou art strong."

The official Brazilian flag has been hoisted by Rio de Janeiro's Environmental Police Command. Protecting and sustaining Brazil's environment will be a theme of the opening, and will continue throughout the games.

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8 p.m.

The opening ceremony did not mean a warm reception for everyone.

As Brazilian government officials took their seats, a smattering of boos could be heard in Maracana Stadium. It could be expected, given the political times in Brazil right now.

Many residents are upset over how much money was spent on these games, saying it could have been better-directed toward Brazilian needs. Interim President Michel Temer took over following the suspension in May of President Dilma Rousseff on impeachment charges.

And the booing didn't last long — when the show started, the crowd roared in delight.

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7:35 p.m.

Long lines are still outside Maracana Stadium, waiting to get through the copious team of security and into their seats for the opening ceremony.

But inside, the pre-show is underway.

Brazilian entertainer and television personality Regina Case is on the stadium floor, teaching fans in the stadium certain roles they will play in the show. Case says that 60,000 fans will be in the stadium, but she reminded the crowd that 3 billion will be watching on television worldwide.

Case told the crowd, "Here in Brazil, we like to party ... and we believe the people are made to shine." And she reminded the crowd that they are "the stars of this show" as the lights of the stadium dimmed and the only illumination was coming from the lights of thousands of fans' cell phones.

Outside, military vehicles, police and 35 checkpoints filled the streets near the stadium. Their presence created long lines and traffic jams.

Neither Brazil's Defense Ministry nor Rio de Janeiro police will say how many security personnel are on the ground to secure the Olympic opening ceremony. As many as 85,000 will be on site until the end of the games. That's twice as many as London four years ago. More would have been on the ground if Rio wasn't forced to cut about $550 million from the Olympic budget amid a recession.

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6:55 p.m.

Most of the nations marching in Friday's opening ceremony for the Rio Games will not have a head of state in Maracana Stadium to help cheer their arrival.

Officials had predicted as many as 100 heads of state would attend the first Olympics in South America. But that fell way flat, with about 25 expected to attend Friday night — in large part because of very uncertain political times in Brazil.

For now, the country essentially has two presidents. Interim President Michel Temer took over following the suspension in May of President Dilma Rousseff on impeachment charges.

Among those who are coming: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

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6:30 p.m.

Fans are filing into Maracana Stadium, as the opening ceremony for the Rio Games gets set to begin later Friday night.

Once considered the biggest stadium in the world with a capacity of nearly 200,000, Maracana Stadium now holds around 80,000 people.

Opened in 1950 for the World Cup, in which Uruguay beat the hosts 2-1 in the final, the stadium has been renovated many times over the years. Pele scored the 1,000th goal of his career there in 1969, and the field has been the site for countless major soccer matches at many levels.

Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney all played there in the 1980s to massive crowds of about 180,000. KISS, Sting, Madonna, Pearl Jam, the Rolling Stones and Prince are among the many other performers to grace Maracana's stage.

The stadium was the site of the 2014 World Cup final. Germany topped Argentina 1-0 for the title.

The closing ceremony is at the stadium as well, as are the opening and closing events of the Paralympics.

Brittney Griner: WNBA star sentenced to 9 years in Russian jail for ...

CNN —

American women’s basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time Thursday in a case that has raised concerns she is being used as a political pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court delivered the sentence and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,400. She said the court took into account Griner’s partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health and charitable activities. Prosecutors had asked that she be sentenced to 9.5 years in jail.

Prior to the verdict, Griner apologized to the court and asked for leniency in an emotional speech.

“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Griner said. “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that, that is far from this courtroom.

“I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime,” she added.

After the sentence, Griner told a CNN producer as she left court, “I love my family.”

The verdict comes about six months after the 31-year-old was arrested at a Moscow airport and accused by Russian prosecutors of trying to smuggle less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist pleaded guilty to drug charges last month and said she accidentally packed the drugs while in a hurry.

Griner’s lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said in a written statement they will appeal the decision and criticized the court for ignoring their evidence. They have 10 days to appeal.

“We are very disappointed by the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality. The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea,” they said in the statement. “This contradicts the existing legal practice. Taking into account the amount of the substance (not to mention the defects of the expertise) and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable. We will certainly file an appeal.”

Speaking outside court, Boykov said that the average time in jail for this type of crime is five years, adding that almost a third of those convicted get parole.

Griner “is not doing fine today,” said Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm. The defense team is hopeful that Griner will be able to talk to her family next week. Blagovolina added that Griner will return to the detention center where she is being held.

Sentence comes amid tense US-Russia relations

Brittney Griner plays during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images Griner was born in Houston on October 18, 1990. She is the youngest child of Raymond and Sandra Griner. Brittney Griner/Facebook A young Griner, then in seventh grade, drives a four-wheeler. Brittney Griner/Facebook Griner would attend Nimitz High School, where she broke nearly all the school's basketball records. Brittney Griner/Facebook Griner signs autographs while playing for Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Darren Carroll/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Griner huddles with Baylor teammates during a Final Four game in 2010. Eric Gay/AP Griner goes up for the opening tip at the 2010 Final Four. Eric Gay/AP Griner celebrates after Baylor won the NCAA title in 2012. She was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player as Baylor went 40-0 on the season. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos/Getty Images Griner pumps her fist as President Barack Obama talks about her basketball skills in 2012. The Baylor team was visiting the White House. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Griner plays against Iowa State in 2012. Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Griner huddles with teammates before a game in 2012. Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Griner's image is seen on a building in downtown Phoenix after the Phoenix Mercury chose her with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner talks with the media after being drafted in 2013. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images Griner takes a photo during the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game. Chris Marion/NBAE/Getty Images Griner blocks a Skylar Diggins shot during a WNBA game in 2014. Shane Bevel/NBAE/Getty Images Griner talks with a fan at Chase Field in Phoenix in 2014. Griner was throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images Griner holds the WNBA championship trophy after Phoenix defeated Chicago in 2014. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Griner huddles with a group of kids during a WNBA Fit All-Star Clinic in 2015. Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images Griner gets fired up before a playoff game in 2015. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images Griner high-fives Obama as the Mercury visited the White House in 2015. Olivier Douliery/Getty Images Griner plays against Spain at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner poses for a selfie with fans in 2016. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner plays a WNBA game in 2018. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner reacts after hitting a 3-pointer in 2020. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images Griner takes a selfie with her teammates after they won Olympic gold in 2021. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Griner kisses her wife, Cherelle, after a playoff win in 2021. Ethan Miller/Getty Images A girl walks past a Griner mural in Phoenix in April. Griner was arrested in Russia in February. Rebecca Noble/The New York Times/Redux Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court outside Moscow in June. Her case raised concerns she was being used as a political pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US State Department classified her as wrongfully detained. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images Griner sits inside a defendants' cage in August before she was sentenced to nine years of jail time. Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/Reuters Griner's wife, Cherelle, sits with President Joe Biden as they talk with Griner on the phone after her release. This photo was tweeted on the president's account, saying about Griner: "She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home." On the right are Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. White House Griner arrives in San Antonio after being released from Russian custody in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. She shared this photo on her Instagram a few days later. "It feels so good to be home!" she wrote. "The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help." Miguel Negron/US Army South Griner hugs her wife, Cherelle, after landing in San Antonio. Miguel Negron/US Army South In pictures: WNBA star Brittney Griner Prev Next

The harsh sentence comes amid the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s saber-rattling with the US and Europe. The US State Department maintains Griner is wrongfully detained, and US officials have offered a potential prisoner swap with Russia in an attempt to bring her home safely.

Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Russia, Elizabeth Rood, said the sentence was a “miscarriage of justice,” and US President Joe Biden said the lengthy sentence was “unacceptable.”

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” Biden said in a statement.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the Russian legal system more broadly, saying the sentence “puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.”

He said the US is working to bring home Griner and Paul Whelan, an American citizen who has been held by Russia for alleged espionage since 2018. “This is an absolute priority of mine and the Department’s,” Blinken said.

It’s now “up to the Russian side” on whether Griner’s conviction opens new doors for negotiations of a prisoner swap, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

“We’re still open to having our proposal seriously and positively considered, and if on the Russian side that means they feel like they’re more empowered to do that, then so be it,” Kirby told reporters in Thursday’s White House briefing.

Kirby reiterated the US position remains that it wants Russia to “take the deal on the table because it’s a good one, it’s a fair one, and it’ll help bring Paul and Brittney home.”

CNN National Security Analyst Steve Hall said the harsh sentence was not a surprise and argued that Russia’s court proceedings are not legitimate.

“This is all performance in Russia. There was never any doubt as to what was going to happen,” he said. “What Vladimir Putin is trying to do is basically drive up the bargaining price of Ms. Griner.”

Video Ad Feedback WNBA star's lawyers: cannabis was prescribed 02:21 - Source: CNN

Last week, CNN reported that the Biden administration proposed a prisoner swap with Russia, offering to release a convicted Russian arms trafficker, Viktor Bout, in exchange for Griner and Whelan. Russian officials countered the US offer, multiple sources familiar with the discussions have said, but US officials did not accept the request as a legitimate counteroffer.

The Kremlin warned Tuesday that US “megaphone diplomacy” will not help negotiations for a prisoner exchange involving Griner. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow believes these talks should be “discrete.”

Griner’s WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, played the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night. Before the game, the teams held a 42-second moment of silence as players linked arms. Near the end of the tribute, spectators started chanting, “Bring her home! Bring her home!” Griner, a six-time WNBA all-star, wears No. 42 for the Mercury.

The Mercury lost 77-64. Point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, wearing a “We Are BG” T-shirt, said after the game the verdict was devastating.

“Nobody wanted to even play today,” she told reporters. “How are you supposed to approach the game, approach the court and with a clear mind, and our whole group is crying before the game? Because you try to honor her and you try to come out and still play hard for her.”

Earlier, the Mercury released a statement calling the verdict “a sobering milestone in the 168-day nightmare” of her detention.

“We are inspired every day by BG’s strength and we are steadfastly committed to keeping her top-of-mind publicly until she is safely back on American soil. We will not allow her to be forgotten. We are BG,” the statement reads.

Head coach Vanessa Nygaard told CNN the guilty verdict and Griner’s sentence is “unacceptable.”

“It’s just heartbreaking,” the coach said. “To hear her words and her apologies. Just trying to send love, prayers and strength to her.”

In a joint statement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver criticized the verdict and sentence as “unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected.”

“The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States,” they said.

Defense asked for leniency in closing arguments

The court hearing Thursday began shortly after Griner arrived in handcuffs, escorted by Russian officers into the defendant’s cage. Once uncuffed, she spoke with her legal team and then held up a photo of the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team, the Russian squad she played for during the WNBA offseason.

In closing arguments, Blagovolina argued that Griner never used marijuana in Russia and that she never had the intention of doing so. She had no need to bring the vape cartridges to Russia, the lawyer added. All this confirms the complete absence of intent in her actions, Blagovolina argued.

Even if Griner ever used medical marijuana, it was only at home back in Arizona, rare and only with a doctor’s prescription, she added. She couldn’t have known how strict the laws were in Russia, Blagovolina said.

Boykov also argued Griner had no opportunity to properly examine the court documents. He said that the Russian constitution guarantees everyone the right to use their native language and the free choice of the language of communication.

Boykov cited an instance when a language interpreter provided to Griner flipped through a lengthy document offered by an investigator for translation and then told Griner, “Basically, it means that you are guilty.”

Throughout the trial, Griner’s attorneys have laid out arguments undermining the prosecution’s case and claiming her detention was not handled correctly after she was stopped February 17 by personnel at the Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Her detention, search and arrest were “improper,” Boykov said last week, noting more details would be revealed during closing arguments.

After she was stopped in the airport, Griner was made to sign documents that she did not fully understand, she testified. At first, she said, she was using Google translate on her phone but was later moved to another room where her phone was taken and she was made to sign more documents.

No lawyer was present, Griner testified, and her rights were not explained to her. Those rights would include access to an attorney once she was detained and the right to know what she was suspected of. Under Russian law, she should have been informed of her rights within three hours of her arrest.

On Tuesday, at the seventh hearing in her case, a defense expert testified that the examination of the substance contained in Griner’s vape cartridges did not comply with Russian law. Blagovolina also told CNN her team’s experts identified “a few defects” in the machines used to measure the substance.

At trial, Griner testified she has a doctor’s prescription for medical cannabis and had no intention of bringing the drug into Russia. Following her detention in February, she was tested for drugs and was clean, her lawyers previously said.

“We continue to insist that, by indiscretion, in a hurry, she packed her suitcase and did not pay attention to the fact that substances allowed for use in the United States ended up in this suitcase and arrived in the Russian Federation,” Boykov, of Moscow Legal Center, has said.

Anna Chernova Zahra Ullah Masha Angelova Chris Liakos Eric Levenson