The Rio 2016 organising Committee announced on Wednesday that the Olympic Torch will visit 329 cities across each of Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District in a colourful ceremony at its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

One of the greatest symbols of the Olympics will arrive in Brazil’s capital from the Games’ heartland in Athens on May 3, and will be carried 20,000 kilometres across ground and 16,000 kilometres through the air, before arriving in Rio de Janeiro for the Opening Ceremony on August 5.

Among some 12,000 people who will take their turn to lift the Olympic flame is captain of Brazil’s Olympic volleyball team which took gold in London, Fabiana Claudino, Brazilian Olympic sailor and bronze medalist, Isabel Swan together with gold medalist in Judo at the Pan-American Games, Erica Miranda.