Brazil welcomes the Olympic flag as it lands in Rio

Following London 2012’s closing ceremony, the Olympic flag has touched down in Rio de Janeiro ahead...

16:28 14 August 2012

Following London 2012’s closing ceremony, the Olympic flag has touched down in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.

With Rio being the host of the next Olympiad, its Mayor Eduardo Paes carried the flag off the plane on Monday the BBC reports. 

 

Alongside him was the president of the 2016 Games Organising Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, and Rio Governor Sergio Cabral.

 

As stated by The Telegraph, Rio’s Mayor has spoken about the city needing to be transformed in preparation for the 31st Olympiad.

 

A source informed the BBC that Rio’s transportation system currently struggles to serve the city’s population.

 

It is believed a group of demonstrators protested against changes the Olympics will bring outside the airport in Brazil.

 

In a comment quoted by The Telegraph, Mayor Paes said the most important effects of the Olympics "are sometimes, many times, the intangible transformations, the impalpable ones related to the brand of a country, the brand of a city, with the self-esteem of a country."

 

Mayor Paes received the Olympic flag on Sunday, where the cauldron flames were put out to mark the end of the 2012 games.