Here's why the Opening Ceremony stage was oddly shaped

Friday’s colorful Opening Ceremony was different from many of its predecessors, a fact that soon became apparent as the main floor was unveiled to a worldwide audience.

Instead of the traditional and symmetrical oval, the main stage at the Maracana Stadium looked misshapen to the untrained eye. In reality, it was a beautiful nod to a beloved Brazilian artist.

The floor was “inspired by the shapes created by (Roberto) Burle Marx, our master landscape designer and artist,” the official program noted. “He is best known for his iconic seaside pavement design on Copacabana Beach, and for his abstract, geometric garden designs.”

Burle Marx died in 1994, but his influence lives on in many of the gardens and parks he designed around Rio de Janeiro and the rest of the country.

Here’s an example of his work that you can clearly see led to the design of the stage.

And here’s the famous pavement at Copacabana Beach.

The Opening Ceremony always includes nods to the local style and culture. Brazil’s nod to Burle Marx was a subtle reference, but very cool nonetheless.

Yahoo Sports’ Greg Wyshynski reports live from the streets of Rio:

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