By Nick Butler

A Torch Relay aiming to replicate the success of the one before the London 2012 Games will be confirmed soon ©Getty ImagesRio 2016 organisers are seeking to emulate the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay, they have claimed, with a 100-day event spanning the entire host country.


Although, as ever, the Flame will be lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, it will almost certainly then cross the Atlantic straight to Brazil rather than visit any other countries, officials have revealed.

In a similar format to that seen at London 2012, a variety of sponsors, athletes and celebrities will carry the Torch, along with people selected by local communities.

The Relay is then expected to last 100 days, meaning it will start in April 2016, and while it will be slightly shorter than the mammoth 123-day journey ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games - and will not include a visit to Outer Space - it will showcase all that the host nation has to offer.

Speaking in London, Rio 2016 director of communications, Mario Andrada explained how it "will seek to engage with the national Brazilian population and provide them with an Olympic experience".

He added: "It will not be like Russia's but Brazil has a lot of extravagant places to hold the Torch.

"We will go to the Amazon, for example..."

The Torch Relay will take in all parts of Brazil - from the city's to the Amazon rainforest ©Getty ImagesThe Torch Relay will take in all parts of Brazil - from the city's to the Amazon rainforest ©Getty Images






The announcement of the exact route will come later this year, but details of the sponsors supporting the Relay will be revealed on January 29.

In a similar format to that seen at London 2012, this is expected to consist of a combination of Olympic TOP Sponsors, such as Coca Cola, as well as local Brazilian backers.

Coca-Cola were also a Torch Relay sponsor at both London 2012 and Sochi 2014, while British Bank Lloyds-TSB were a local sponsor in London, and Russian insurance company Ingosstrakh performed the same role in Sochi. 

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