Fencing champion Lei Sheng leads China into opening ceremony

Flag bearer Sheng Lei of China carries the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug 5, 2016. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/China Daily]

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Chinese delegation, led by flag bearer Lei Sheng, marched into the Maracana Stadium in the Rio Olympic Games opening ceremony on Friday.

Chinese athletes marched into the iconic stadium in their usual red and yellow outfits, the colors representing the national flag. The 2008 Summer Olympics and 2020 Winter Games host sent its largest delegation to an overseas Olympic Games with 711 members.

The delegation's 416 athletes, including 35 returning Olympic champions, will compete in 210 events over 26 sports at the Games that ends on Aug 21.

The 32-year-old Leng, who won the foil individual title at London 2012, China's first ever Olympic gold medal in this event, broke the country's tradition of naming basketball player as flag bearer at the Summer Olympics.