The 2016 Summer Olympics torch relay which ran from 21 April until 5 August 2016. After being lit in

Olympia, Greece Olympia ( el, label=Modern Greek, Ολυμπία ; grc, Ὀλυμπία ), officially Archaia Olympia ( el, label=Modern Greek, Αρχαία Ολυμπία; grc, Ἀρχαία Ὀλυμπία, links=no; "Ancient Olympia"), is a small town in E ...

, the torch traveled to

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

on the 27 April. The Brazilian leg began in the capital,

Brasília Brasília (; ) is the federal capital of Brazil and seat of government of the Federal District. The city is located at the top of the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West region. It was founded by President Juscelino Kubitsche ...

, and ended in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

Maracanã Stadium Maracanã Stadium ( pt, Estádio do Maracanã, standard Brazilian Portuguese: , local pronunciation: ), officially named Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho (), is an association football stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The stadium is part o ...

, the main venue of the 2016 Olympics. After having visited more than 300 Brazilian cities, including all 26 state capitals and the

Federal District A federal district is a type of administrative division of a federation, usually under the direct control of a federal government and organized sometimes with a single municipal body. Federal districts often include capital districts, and they e ...

. The end of the relay was the closing to the

2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony The opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics took place on the evening of Friday 5 August 2016 in the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, starting at 20:00 BRT (23:00 UTC). As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the ...

Route in Greece

Route in Switzerland

Route in Brazil

Revezamento da Tocha Olímpica em Brasília 09.jpg, Torch relay in

, with the marathoner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima (3 May). Revezamento da Tocha Olímpica em Corumbá de Goiás 11.jpg, Torch relay in

Corumbá de Goiás Corumbá de Goiás is a municipality in central Goiás state, Brazil. It is one of the oldest cities in the state and still preserves vestiges of its colonial heritage. The Areias River passes through the municipality. Location and Geography Loc ...

(4 May). Pirenópolis recebe Tocha Olímpica 01.jpg, Torch relay in

Pirenópolis Pirenópolis is a town located in the Brazilian state of Goiás. It is known for its waterfalls and Portuguese colonial architecture, and a popular festival involving mounted horses called Festa do Divino Espírito Santo which takes place 45 day ...

, Goiás (4 May). Dom Lélis Lara com a tocha olímpica na Praça da Estação, Coronel Fabriciano MG.JPG, Torch relay in Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais, with Don Lélis Lara (12 May). 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony 1035326-olimpiadas abertura-4006.jpg, The last stop of the torch relay,

(5 August).

End of Torch Relay

At the

, Gustavo Kuerten brought the Olympic torch into the stadium, relayed off the Olympic flame to

Hortência Marcari Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari (born September 23, 1959) is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest female basketball players in Brazil, along with Paula, and regarded by specialists as one of the world's ...

, who relayed to

Vanderlei de Lima Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima (born 4 July 1969) is a Brazilian retired long-distance runner. He was born in Cruzeiro do Oeste, Paraná. While leading the marathon after 35 km at the 2004 Summer Olympics, he was attacked on the course by Iri ...

. de Lima then lit the

Olympic cauldron The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olympic ...

Torch bearers

Notable torch bearers include: *

: de Lima had been selected as the final torch bearer and the one who lit the cauldron after

Pelé Edson Arantes do Nascimento (; born 23 October 1940), known as Pelé (), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and labelled "the greatest" by FIFA, ...

declined due to illness. de Lima had been attacked during his marathon run at the 2004 Olympics, when he was leading, making him a leading choice for the honor of last flame bearer. *

: Marcari is considered the greatest Brazilian female basketball player. * Gustavo Kuerten: Kuerten is the best male tennis player in South America in history. *

Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (; ; born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was his country's Minister ...

, Ban is the General Secretary of the United Nations *

Thomas Bach Thomas Bach (born 29 December 1953) is a German lawyer, former Olympic foil fencer and Olympic gold medalist, serving as the ninth and current president of the International Olympic Committee since 10 September 2013. He is also a former memb ...

, Bach is the President of the International Olympic Committee *

Carlos Arthur Nuzman Carlos Arthur Nuzman (born 17 March 1942) is a Brazilian lawyer and former volleyball player, having competed professionally from 1957 to 1972 and represented the national team between 1962 and 1968. Nuzman was part of the first Brazilian male ...

, Nuzman is the President of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Organizing Committee * Adriana Lima, Lima is a Brazilian supermodel. * Eduardo Paes, Paes is the mayor of Rio de Janeiro *

Heloísa Pinheiro Heloísa Eneida Paes Pinto Mendes Pinheiro (born July 7, 1945), better known as Helô Pinheiro (), is a Brazilian businesswoman and former model. Biography At the age of 17, Pinheiro became the source of inspiration for the song "The Girl from ...

, Pinheiro was the source of inspiration for the bossa nova single The Girl from Ipanema.

References

External links

* 3D model
"Rio 2016 Olympic torch"
''The 2016 Olympic torch (designed by Chelles & Hayashi)'', by Wilfried Vougny. April 21, 2016 (in French)
"En 5 Minutes - L'odyssey de la flamme olympique commence"
"Le Journal de Montréal", by Wilfried Vougny, Apr. 21, 2016. {{Olympic torch relays Torch Relay, 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic torch relays