Northeast Brazil on Holiday for Olympic Torch Relay

(ATR) A local holiday was called yesterday as the torch made its way to the capital of Pernambuco, Recife.

All schools were given the day off to watch 215 torchbearers carry the flame to the state capital. While there the flame passed by local landmarks such as Estação do Artesão, the Mother Church at Arão Lins Square, the city hall, and Marco Zero where the Olympic cauldron was lit.

Representing the sporting heritage of the city, goalkeeper for Sport Club Recife Alessandro Beti Rosa, known as Magrão, was one of the torchbearers for the day. Magrão was invited by Coca-Cola to be one of their sponsored torchbearers in Recife.

"It is not only a privilege, but an honor to be one of those who represent the city of Recife in this great moment," Magrão said after his turn. "I always had the responsibility to defend a club with my hands, but on this occasion I will be representing Pernambuco carrying the torch and entering into the history of the Games."

After appearing in Pernambuco briefly after leaving the state of Bahia,the torch visited the states of Alagoas and Sergipe on their way to the capital of Pernambuco. The flame spent one day each in Brazil’s two smallest states on May 28-29.

In Sergipe over 140 torchbearers ran with the flame, as the journey started in Xingó Canyon. The torch was carried via boat through the canyon on the São Francisco River until it reached open water. To end the day the flame visited the state capital of Aracaju, where the relay ended with a festival held on the Praça de Eventos.

The next day the flame travelled down up to Alagoas making a stop to visit the state capital of Maceió before venturing back into the state of Pernambuco.

Before hitting Recife, the flame visited the Caruaru, a city famous for its yearly celebration of the Festival de São João every June. The celebrations, which last over a month, are known as the best party in the world. On its way the flame met with spiritual leaders from the surviving African religions that came over with slaves to the country. The flame toured a Quilombo in Uniao dos Palmares before reaching Carauru.

Next for the Torch Relay are stops in the states of Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte as the relay reaches the extreme Northeast of the country.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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