Details on the Rio 2016 torch relay have just been released to the public, 554 days out from the world’s biggest competitive sporting event. The Rio 2016 Olympic torch relay, which will begin with a ceremony in Olympia Greece in May, 2016, will have covered 12,000 miles in a span of 90-100 days across Brazil by its end. The Olympic cauldron is slated to be lit at the Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016. (Rio 2016)
The relay plans to visit all 26 Brazilian capitals, including the federal district capital of Brasilia, which tops out at 250 total cities and towns. Organizers anticipate each torch bearer’s portion of the relay to traverse 300 meters, allowing the flame to visit 90 percent of Brazil’s citizens. This is in addition to the flame also traveling 10,000 miles by airplane. Rio 2016 also revealed this graphic via its twitter account (@Rio2016) earlier today.
“Upon being awarded the right to host the 2016 Olympic Games, we promised to involve the entire country, thereby ensuring it would be an event made by Brazilians, for Brazilians and with a Brazilian spirit for the world to enjoy,” said Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman. “To stage the Olympic torch relay across the whole country is to fulfill that promise and give millions the chance to participate in an unforgettable celebration.”
Even though the actual torch’s design itself is still under wraps, the Rio 2016 torch relay logo was released, foreshadowing what the physical scheme may entail. Rio 2016 organizers describe the logo’s warm colors as a “reference to the flame and to the warmth of Brazilians.”
Rio 2016’s site states that the torchbearer nomination process will take place this year in collaboration with presenting partners of the torch relay: Coca-Cola, Nissan and Bradesco.