A proud moment for Mario Tovar (Photo: Courtesy of Marcio Tovar)
by Ian Marshall, Editor
Lit in the Greek city of Olympia, the birthplace of the Ancient Olympic Games, on Thursday 21st April; the Olympic Torch was presented to the Rio 2016 organisers on Wednesday 27 April following the traditional a tour around Greece.
On Tuesday 3rd May, the Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, Nissan, and Bradesco, officially commenced in the country’s capital city of Brazil; the 95 day tour around the country had begun.
A journey around the country; on Friday 27th July, the torch reached Santos in São Paulo State, approximately 211 miles (340 kilometres) further south along the Atlantic coastline from Rio de Janeiro; about one by air, ten hours by bus!
I can vouch for those facts through experience!
Privileged to carry the torch was part of the ceremonial was the host nation’s Marcio Tovar, a member of the Swaythling Club International and for some 50 years a dedicated table tennis enthusiast.
Understandably he was honoured to have been chosen.
Eventually, the torch will end its journey at the Opening Ceremony to be held in the Maracanã Stadium on Friday 5th August.
Overall, the Torch will visit 300 Brazilian cities, including all 26 state capitals.