Brazil Grasps Olympic Flame

(ATR) The flame for the Rio 2016 Olympics is now in Brazilian hands.

At a sunset ceremony in the stadium used for the 1896 Athens Olympics the flame was handed over to Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman by Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos.

In commemoration of the first Olympics in Brazil the white marble stadium in the center of Athens will be lit overnight in the green and yellow of the Brazilian flag.

Marcelo Pedroso, president of the APO, the public authority for the Rio Olympics, represented the government Brazil at the event.

"It’s good to be Brazilian at this moment," Pedroso told Around the Rings shortly after the ceremony.

"At this moment Brazilians can show the world that we can deliver. Not just for Brazil but for South America, as these are the first Olympics in South America. For me I’m very proud to be here and proud to be a part of our team," said Pedroso.

The Olympic flame was kindled April 21 in the traditional ceremony held in ancient Olympia, followed by a week long torch relay through Greece. After the handover ceremony, the flame will be taken to Switzerland for a few days.

The flame will first make a stop at the United Nations offices in Geneva followed by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, headquarters city for the IOC.

The torch relay in Brazil will begin May 3 plan the flame arrives in Brasilia after a transatlantic plane flight. From the national capital the Olympic Torch relay will wind its way through each one of the 26 state capitals of Brazil, ending August 5 with the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The relay is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Nissan and Bradesco.

Written by Ed Hula.

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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