The Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay will begin on 3 May, but a taste of the colour and excitement that it will spread around Brazil was experienced in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (24 February). In a celebratory event held alongside the Rio 2016 headquarters, the full relay route, the first torchbearers and the uniform they will wear were revealed to the sound of forro music accompanied by dancers on stilts.

Olympic Torch Relay to showcase diverse beauty of Brazil

Children weaved among the dancers, proudly holding aloft the names of all 329 towns and cities that will host the relay which will visit all five regions of Brazil between 3 May and  5 August, reaching 90 per cent of the population. Despite a hot summer sun that produced 40-degree heat, it was an energetic and multicultural celebration, as the relay and the Games themselves are expected to be (check out the video at the bottom of the page).

See the list of towns and cities the relay will visit

Rio 2016 Olympic mascot Vinicius was the first to model the torchbearers uniform, showing off his samba skills in front of the gathered crowds and media. Brazilian judoka Erika Miranda, who was selected by Rio 2016 to be a torchbearer, also donned the white, yellow and green outfit, alongside others who have been invited to carry the torch by the relay partners Coca-Cola, Nissan and Bradesco.

Vinicius shows off the torchbearers ’ uniform as kids scramble for a selfie with him (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

“Although the Games will be in Rio, us Brazilian athletes will be representing the whole nation. And with the flame going to every corner of the country, it’s a chance for people who won’t be coming to the Games to feel closer to event,” said Miranda, a three-time world championships medallist and 2015 Pan-American Games champion in the -52 kg category.

Find out all about the Olympic torch

The uniform, which will also be used by support runners and the relay workforce, has been produced by Chinese sportswear company  361°, an official Games partner . The white represents peace and unity between different cultures, the yellow symbolises the Olympic flame and the green trim adds another of the main colours of the Brazilian flag.

Refugee to carry torch during Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay

Erika Miranda is all smiles as she models the uniform along with the torch (Photo: Rio 2016/Felipe Varanda)

The theme song of the torch relay was also revealed: A Vida do Viajante (The Life of a Traveller) by Luiz Gonzaga, while the celebration featured various styles of Brazilian music. The musical side of the event was organised by Carla Camurati, director Celebra , the Rio 2016 culture programme.

“With the torch, we are going to illuminate the country, spread the Brazilian spirit, give a taste of our culture”

Carla Camurati

Dancers in the reisado style took part in Wednesday's launch party (Photo: Rio 2016/Felipe Varanda)

About 12,000 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame, which will travel 20,000 kilometres by road and 10,000 miles by air during the 95-day event. “By taking the Olympic flame to the whole country, we will be keeping our promise to give millions of people the chance to participate in a celebration that will stay in their memories for a long time,” said Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

“We want to see the pride of people in the streets, show our cultural diversity and our nature. We will reveal to the world the essence of our country”

Carlos Arthur Nuzman

Retired swimmer Gustavo Borges, who won four Olympic medals for Brazil between 1992 and 2000, was among the first torchbearers to be revealed. “The relay will showcase interesting places for us Brazilians and also for the whole world – it’s a responsibility,” he said. Another was Brazil’s greatest ever tennis player, Maria Esther Bueno, who said: “Carrying the torch is an unbelievable honour, something I never imagined would happen to me.”

Olympic Tennis Centre’s main court named after Maria Esther Bueno 

Rio 2016 broadcasted the event live on Facebook, check out the video below...