Obama took the stage at Theatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, at 3 pm, 20 minutes after the US Embassy’s scheduled time. There were great expectation and pressure, due to the massive security operation that surrounded his visit to the city, disrupted traffic and put many helicopters flying over the areas through which he passed. But nothing that a few Portuguese words couldn’t make better.
* Obama’s speech, on Sunday afternoon, was casual even, right up to the U.S. president without a tie, breaking protocol of public appearances for a head of state. He surprised with references to national culture – with quotes from Jorge Ben Jor’s "País Tropical,” Paulo Coelho and the film "Orfeu da Conceição".
* While Obama didn’t arrive, the presenter Angelica and her husband, Luciano Huck, stole the public’s attention, which was already quite starry. Apart from the couple, Gilberto Gil, singer Alcione, Carlos Tufvesson – he even shared the experience via Twitter – Patrícia Amorim, president of Flamengo, Eike Batista, AfroReggae’s Jose Junior, Carla Camurati, chairman of the Municipal Theater Foundation, among many others attended the speech of U.S. president.
* Glamurama was there and has exclusive footage of Obama’s speech, which lasted just over 20 minutes, but left everyone impressed.