Brazilians Ready To Welcome The World To Rio de Janeiro

 

Millions of Brazilians are getting ready to line the streets and cheer the Olympic Flame around country.

 

Organizers of the 2016 Rio Olympics revealed the complete route of the Olympic Torch Relay that will begin on May 3rd and spread the spirit of the Games around Brazil. At a celebratory event alongside the organizing committee's headquarters, the first torchbearers and the uniform they will wear were also revealed.

The relay will visit 329 towns and cities across all five regions of Brazil, travelling 13,000 miles by road and 10,000 miles by air, and reaching 90 per cent of the country’s population. About 12,000 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame during the 95-day relay, which will be concluded during the opening ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on August 5^th, when the Olympic cauldron will be lit. 

As well as the relay sections of the event in towns and cities, the torch will also be taken to some of the nation’s most stunning beauty spots, such as Fernando de Noronha and the Iguaçu Falls.

According to ancient tradition, the Olympic flame was lit at a ceremony in the Greek city of Olympia on April 21^st and will complete a short relay of Greece before being handed over to Brazil. With the announcement of the full Brazilian route, another 246 towns and cities have been confirmed alongside the 83 revealed when the torch was unveiled last July.

Olympic venues in Rio are on schedule to be open and tested prior to opening day, tickets are selling as they become available and the Olympics excitement is taking over the whole country. 

Brazil will be the first country in South America to host the Olympics Games. The country successfully hosted the 2014 World Cup, which set the stage to confirm that Brazil is the perfect place for major events. The Games will leave a huge legacy for both Rio and Brazil, and are starting to take shape.

Tourists from the Unites States, Canada, Japan and Australia who plan to visit Brazil between June 1^st and September 18^th, 2016 will be exempt from Brazilian visa. The measure will facilitate the entry of athletes and international tourists who wish to come to Brazil to accompany the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.

The visa waiver will benefit those who are in Brazil until September 18^th, 2016 (end date of the Paralympic Games), for a period of stay limited to 90 days, from the date of first entry in the country. The visitor does not need to provide proof of tickets to attend any of the Olympic events.

No other host city will have had such big transformational benefits from the Games as Rio. In addition to infrastructure, the Games also focus on education and citizenship. ´Transforma´, the Education Program of the Rio 2016 Committee, is being extended from 52 to 162 municipal schools. The program was included in the public policies of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall since 2014, and aims to promote the Olympic values among the basic education of students, introducing them to the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.

The Rio 2016 Committee is also intensifying its relationship with society, in order to disseminate the principles of sport and the importance of sport practice, especially among young people, in Rio and throughout the country.

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games will take place from August 5^th to 21^st and will be followed by the Paralympic Games from September 7^th to 18^th.

For more information, please visit http://www.rio2016.com and http://www.brasil2016.gov.br

About Brazil Tourism: 

With its spectacular beaches, lush rainforests, rich culture, exotic cuisine and exciting nightlife, Brazil is one of the most compellingcountries to visit today.  Travelers are invited to explore Brazil’s incredible geographical diversity – from the wetlands to the beaches. With a beautiful, tropical climate, Brazil is an easily accessible, exotic get-away for couples, families and business travelers.  

For more information, go to VisitBrasil.com