Around the Rings Rio Bureau chief Aaron Bauer flew with the Rio 2016 Olympic flame from Lausanne, Switzerland to Brasilia, Brazil to kick off the Rio 2016 torch relay across the host country.
Advertisement
President Dilma Rousseff, who is facing impeachment proceedings in Congress, was due to attend the lighting of the Olympic torch at the presidential palace, though she will likely be removed from office before the opening ceremony in Rio.
“Even though we are living through a truly critical period in our history and the history of our democracy, Brazil will know how to offer athletes and visitors the best welcome at the Olympics”, she said.
The Brazilian leg will last almost 90 days, concluding with the Games’ opening ceremony on 5 August in the Maracana Stadium, where the Olympic pyre will be lit.
The Olympic flame as the symbol of the Games arrived in Brazil Tuesday. “We know about the political instability”.
Another moment of great excitement in the torch relay was when 12-year-old Syrian refugee, Hanan Daqqah, carried the torch.
Brazilian surf champion Gabriel Medina carries the Olympic torch through the country’s capital on Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
The Olympic flame now goes on a 95-day journey around the country.
The first torch bearer was Fabiana Claudino, who has led Brazil’s female volleyball team to Olympic gold two times.
Along the way, it will pass through the hands of about 12,000 runners, who will each carry it for 2km as it travels through 329 cities. Next week the Brazilian senate is expected to vote to suspend her for six months as it considers her impeachment. “We are going to infect our nation with the Olympic spirit and involve the whole Brazilian population in this historic opportunity”, added the president.
Colonel Jose Vicente da Silva, a former head of public security told The Associated Press in a recent interview that he expects protesters to target the relay.
Rio organizers hope the three- month relay will build enthusiasm for the Games, which has lagged as Brazil battles bribery and corruption scandals, recession and the Zika virus outbreak.
Advertisement
Hanan is not the only Syrian refugee represented as the world watches the tradition of the Olympic Torch Relay.
