Rio Games organizers hopes for 11,000 new trees in Brazil

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.