Children, amateur and professional athletes completed the run, with the event coinciding with a panel discussion at the Hamburg House of Sport on how sport can promote just starting opportunities for children and young people in Rio’s slums.

It follows an alliance between sports organisations, support of educators and church partners in Brazil, who have launched a campaign titled “Rio Moved Us” ahead of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the city.

"With the Agenda 2020 the International Olympic Committee will make future games sustainable," said German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) chief executive Michael Vesper. 

“Together with our partners in Germany and Brazil, we are looking to the campaign, 'Rio Moved Us'.

“Already we are looking for ways to help of Rio 2016’s social, economic and environmental sustainability.”

Brazil is currently in the midst of a political and economic crisis in the build-up to the Olympics and Paralympics, but the panel expressed their hope that the Olympics could help contribute to a better and fairer society.

Stephan Jentgens, a director at the Latin American aid organisation Adveniat, hopes the Games will provide further opportunities to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This fairness in Olympia was not confined to the competitions, the population must be involved in planning during the Games but also already,” he said.

"These civilians must be encouraged to confidently claim their rights and to shape their own futures.

“In order to strengthen the hope, we together with our project partners in Rio de Janeiro will work with the disadvantaged children and youth to provide them opportunities for education."