It was carried to the Palais des Nations by a child to mark the "International Day of Sport for Development and Peace".

This aims to highlight the positive influence sport can have on the advancement of human rights and social and economic development.

During the festivities, the UN Secretary General also received the Olympic Cup.

Introduced by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1906, the trophy is awarded to an institution or organisation ‘’which has been active in the service of sport and has contributed substantially to the development of the Olympic Movement’’.

Before every Games in recent years, the UN has passed a resolution supporting the Olympic Truce.

Ban Ki Moon himself had previously carried the flame in both London and Sochi where he delivered a message at the Opening Ceremony.

The Olympic flame will arrive in Lausanne for the third time later today.

In a move designed to reflect Coubertin’s fondness for the sport, it will arrive by rowing boat.

It will then be carried up the steps by 21-year-old sculler Barnabe Delarze, a student of Lausanne University who will compete for Switzerland in the quads at Rio after reaching last year’s World Championship final.

On hand to welcome them will be IOC President Bach.

He will be joined by Rio 2016 Organising Committee President Carlos Nuzman who has flown in from Athens.

The flame will burn in a special Rio 2016 cauldron which has been installed at the museum entrance after a ceremony described as ‘’a flame presentation’’.

In the words of organisers, ‘’It will join the Olympic fire which burns constantly under the benevolent gaze of Coubertin’s statue.”

The flame will remain on display at the Olympic Museum over the weekend before departing for Brasilia where the 95 day domestic relay starts on May 3.