Many top foreign leaders look like skipping the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, put off by Brazil's political turmoil and a stream of bad news engulfing South America's first games.
Top politicians who do show up could face a diplomatic quandary when the games open in three weeks.
President Dilma Rousseff has been suspended and faces an impeachment trial, which could conclude days after the Olympics end. She has said she hopes to attend, meaning she would join interim president Michel Temer as the main faces of the host nation.
"If you are a top world leader, whose hand would you shake in the middle of such uncertainty?" Maristella Basso, a professor of international law at the University of Sao Paulo, told The Associated Press.
"It is a bizarre situation. The best that foreign leaders can do is to send a letter and stay home to avoid any embarrassment. It won't be a party occasion for Brazil anyway, look at the mess."
An early prediction that 100 heads of state or government could be on hand at the August 5 ceremony has not been repeated for weeks.
The Brazilian foreign ministry declined to offer numbers, and said a list would be published just the before the games open. Organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said he did not know how many leaders would attend.
The Brazilian news website UOL puts the number at 45 and lists United Nation Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon as a confirmed guest.
France is an exception, a country planning to send its top leader. The French embassy in Brasilia confirmed that President Francois Hollande will attend the opening ceremony. Paris is a candidate to host the 2024 games.
The United States embassy did not say if President Barack Obama would attend. Brazilian media has reported that Secretary of State John Kerry is the American official most likely to be at Maracana Stadium. First Lady Michelle Obama represented the US at London's opening ceremony in 2012.
China, one of Brazil's main trade partners, did not reply to AP's request for information. Brazilian media say China will send Vice Premier Liu Yandong, who is in charge of education and sports. She ranks far below President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. She is a member of the politburo, but not the standing committee.
Beijing is host to the 2022 Winter Olympics.
