It is due to burst into life from the rays of the sun in the temple of Hera, surrounded by the olive groves of Ancient Olympia in Greece, on April 21. 

A team of eight have been planning the event for over seven months amongst them, Panos Giannaras part of the Torch Relay set up since 2001.

‘’We always plan to start the preparations early because it is very difficult to organize and you cannot make any mistake not even one per cent," he said

The same ceremonial Torch has been used to light the flame since 1992 but each city commissions a distinctive design for the Torches used in the main body of the relay.

Rio 2016 organisers say their Torch reveals "elements of Brazilian flair, harmonious diversity, contagious energy and exuberant nature with the ground sea , mountains sky and sun represented in the colours of the Brazilian flag."

Giannaras said: "’I like the design but the most important thing for me is that the mechanism works perfectly.

"We do not want any problems with Torches.

"Of course we discuss whether the Torch is nice or not but after that we feel safer if the Torch is working perfectly. ‘’

The relay is always accompanied by a cavalcade of vehicles.

‘’We keep all the Torches with us in a truck which follows the route," said Giannaras.

"Every day we calculate how many Torches we need. For 50 runners we might take 70 torches.

"We always have some as a back up, some might not work.

"We call the driver of this vehicle the ‘pilot of the convoy’.

"He is the guy who gives out the Torches and the instructions to the runners in the relay.’

The route is a delicate exercise in diplomacy as it is not possible to take it everywhere.

This year it will visit a refugee camp but other communities are equally as keen to welcome the most potent symbol in the Olympic Movement.

"Many cities ask to go with us but it is difficult because the shape and terrain of Greece doesn’t give you the opportunity to go around, we have to go North and come back almost the same way," said Giannaras.

The arrival of the torch is a major event.

Typically, the Brazilian Greek and Olympic anthems will be played.

Many locals wear traditional Greek costume in welcome.

‘’The host cities are trying to prepare ceremonies with folkloric dances speeches and so on," said Giannaras.

"We have to be well prepared for them.

"They have so many questions and we must be ready to answer all of them.’’

Giannaras has been an emergency Torch bearer on a number of occasions ‘’because in the early years I was in the pilot of the convoy and I had to run when for some reason or another the runner was not there’’.

He claimed that carrying the Torch is always special for him.

‘’Even if you do it ten times in the same day, the beating of your heart is so strong it is an amazing feeling," he said.

The flame will visit some of the Greek islands.

The route is still secret but some will see the flame for the first time since 2004.

‘’It is important because many people want to see the Olympic flame, especially when they have never done so before," said Giannaras.

The flame must arrive in Athens on time for the Handover Ceremony to Rio 2016 on April 27.

‘’During the torch relay we play with the seconds, not the minutes," said Giannaras.

"When we say we arrive in Thessaloniki for example at 10.15, we must be there on time.

"If we are late by maybe five or ten minutes , at the end of the day the schedule will be out by two hours.’’

The weather is one thing that no one can control even with all the planning .

When the heavens opened four years ago before the flame was handed to London, many Greeks joked that it was a deliberately idea to make the British visitors feel at home.

‘Thank god the rain stopped," said Giannaras.

"It was amazing.’’

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman will receive the fire in a miners safety lamp.

It then officially becomes Rio’s flame and Giannaras and his team can relax.

‘’Afterwards , I don’t know if I feel empty but for sure I will feel very tired and I will need a vacation," he said.

The Handover will nonetheless be an emotional event .

‘’It is like you are missing something from yourself, from your country," said Giannaras.

"I always try to follow the route and watch the pictures from the route and I love it.

"I do not to see mishaps in other countries.’’

The Greek organisers light a flame at each of the rehearsals and these are carried in safety lamps to ensure that even if the worst happens, the flame can be relit with the authentic fire from Olympia.

In 2016 , the Torch Relay will be preceded by a special run to highlight the Olympic Truce.

Organisers hope to invite Olympic champions will take part.

They will also invite members of the military who will symbolically lay down their uniforms, just as Torchbearer Corporal Konstantinos Dimitrellis did at the start of the London 1948 Relay.