The Rio 2016 organizing Committee has announced the first 83 cities in the Olympic Torch Relay route before the 2016 Olympic Games. They mark the finishing spot for the torch on each day of the relay.
The cities were selected to reach as many of the Brazilian people as possible during the relay. It ends on August 5, 2016 when the last torchbearer lights the Olympic Cauldron at the opening ceremony.
Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman values the torch relay for bringing the people together. Nuzman said, “We want to show the world the chemistry that we believe will be born when the Olympic flame meets the warmth of the Brazilian people. It would be impossible to mount such a logistical plan without working together with the governments and their public servants, such as in security, traffic control and public order. Some cities will also organise celebrations to mark the end of the Torch Relay every day.”
The torch relay will take place across Brazil for 90-100 days, modeled after the ceremonies of the Ancient Olympic Games. 12,000 torchbearers will carry the flame over 20,000 km. The torch will also fly 16,000 km between Teresina and Campo Grande.
It’s expected to visit 500 cities/towns. About 300 of those will host the relay, with 200 cheering them on as they pass by with the flame. This will allow the relay to reach approximately 90 percent of the Brazilian people. The complete list of cities on the relay route will be released in early 2016.