BRAZIL: OLYMPICS; The Olympic flag receives a special blessing from seven different religions at Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer Statue

Record ID: 331114

  • Title: BRAZIL: OLYMPICS; The Olympic flag receives a special blessing from seven different religions at Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer Statue
  • Date: 19th August 2012
  • Summary: PRESIDENT OF THE RIO 2016 ORGANISING COMMITTEE, CARLOS ARTHUR NUZMAN, ARRIVING FOR CEREMONY TO WELCOME OLYMPIC FLAG CLOSE OF FLAGS FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES VIEW OF CHRIST STATUE AND OLYMPIC FLAG BEING DISPLAYED CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES IN CEREMONY PRIEST BLESSING OLYMPIC FLAG WITH HOLY WATER CLOSE OF NUZMAN IN CEREMONY CLOSE OF RINGS ON OLYMPIC FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PRESIDENT OF THE RIO 2016 ORGANISING COMMITTEE, CARLOS ARTHUR NUZMAN, SAYING: "The Olympic spirit is being, more than ever, highlighted here at the Christ Statue, receiving a blessing from all with this ecumenical encounter, this ecumenical blessing, helping promote the Olympic spirit among the population in a rare demonstration to show the world what the Olympic flag represents for the people." OLYMPIC FLAG AND CHRIST STATUE
  • Embargoed: 3rd September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Religion,Religion,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA18M23GEE74WWJ3MTW37XGMXKW
  • Story Text: The Olympic flag made it to the top of Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer Statue on Sunday (August 19) to get a blessing in an inter-religious act aimed at marking the peaceful union of all nations.
    The Olympic symbol made its grand entrance next to flags of all countries that took part in the Games in London.
    The 130-foot (40-meter) monument, which looks out over Rio's dramatic view of beaches and mountains, is the Catholic country's main symbol.
    The President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee Carlos Arthur Nuzman and Rio's Mayor Eduardo Paes attended the ceremony.
    Nuzman said the inter-religious ceremony at the Christ Statue was the best way to show Brazil's Olympic spirit to the world.
    "The Olympic spirit is being, more than ever, highlighted here at the Christ Statue, receiving a blessing from all with this ecumenical encounter, this ecumenical blessing, helping promote the Olympic spirit among the population in a rare demonstration to show the world what the Olympic flag represents for the people," he said.
    After it touched base in Brazil last week, the Olympic flag toured Rio's slums and was set for public display at the government palace.
    In November, the flag is expected to be taken to a new Olympic monument being built in Rio's downtown district.
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