RIO DE JANEIRO — As the Russians entered Maracana Stadium, the reaction was mixed at best.
The country’s team of 271 athletes comes into these Rio Olympics under a cloud after revelations of state-sponsored doping and the subversion of the anti-doping regulations up to the highest level of sport in the country created a crisis in the leadup to the Games.
As the team appeared on the screens here in the opening ceremony’s Parade of Nations, a low murmur of boos echoed in the stadium. As the Russian team was announced over the PA system, muted cheers came from the crowd of approximately 60,000.