Nobel Peace Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus will bear the torch of the Rio Olympic Games which will kick off in the Brazilian city on August 5. Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has chosen him to join the mission of spreading the spirit of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games throughout the world, according to a press release of Yunus Centre issued today.
The Rio Olympic Torch relay began with the traditional Olympic flame lighting ceremony in the Greek city of Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Games, on April 21, 2016. In Brazil, the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay started in the Brazilian capital Brasília on May 3. After travelling more than three hundred cities throughout the country, it will end on August 5 during the opening ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium. Professor Yunus will bear the Olympic torch at the final leg of the relay in Rio on August 4. Professor Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, will also address the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attended by representatives of the national Olympic Committees from around the world, in Rio on that day.
He will speak on “Athletics, Social Business and SDGs – the New Vision of the World”. Professor Yunus will be jointly working with IOC to develop a social dimension to the athletics and the sports world, right from the grass root level to the global level. This will include all IOC events, venues and organizations to participate and create social businesses to address human problems around them. Rio Olympic is the 31 edition of the modern day Olympic Games, where 42 different sports will be played. Professor Yunus will be in Brazil from August 2 to 9.
Nayadiganta
