News The Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay has been going on for one month and throughout this period the Olympic flame has consistently been greeted with one of the best things about the Brazil: its unmatched cultural diversity Dance, music, religious rituals and typical dress are just some of the ways in which Brazilians have taken to the streets to salute the symbol of the Olympic Games In Goiás, the first state on the torch’s itinerary after leaving the Brazilian capital Brasília, the Olympic flame received a traditional Goiás cowboy’s welcome A blowing cowhorn announced the arrival of the relay in Itaberaí The instrument is used in cow herding and is also a typical feature of rodeo festivals in Goiás and other states in Brazil 1 month of the Olympic Torch Relay: a journey to remember The historic city of Diamantina, in the state of Minas Gerais, saluted the Olympic torch with a Vesperata, an event that has taken place in the city since the 19th century, with musicians playing from the balconies of historic buildings to the public in the street below The best torch relay videos Also in Minas, the torch relay was welcomed with a colourful dance called the Marujada, which is typically performed in August during the festival of Nossa Senhora do Rosário In the city of Couto de Magalhães, the local Marujada dance group decided the passing of the Olympic torch was more than reason enough to break from tradition and perform the dance early The youngest participants of the group were not satisfied in simply witnessing the torch relay, they decided they needed to get up close too… Once in Bahia, it was only a matter of time before the torch relay would come into contact with the infectious rhythms and colours of Olodum And where better for this welcome than the historic centre of Salvador and UNESCO world heritage site, Pelourinho, where Olodum’s students welcomed the Olympic flame to the city 1 month of the Olympic Torch Relay: seven quick facts   There could not have been anyone left without goosebumps after Brazilian marathon swimmer Allan do Carmo was blessed by carnival group Filhos de Gandhy and Candomblé priestesses on the steps of Senhor do Bonfim church in Salvador “I was taken aback, the energy was amazing I had fun, I celebrated and danced steps I didn’t know I knew,” said Brazil’s first swimmer to earn a place at the Rio 2016 Games Various cultural expressions from Bahia are derived from Brazil’s African heritage Capoeira, which has spread all over Brazil and beyond, is a martial art but is also a quintessential Brazilians cultural expression for its use of instruments, music and its gingado (loosely translated as swing, it is this quality that Brazilians believe gives their football a unique flavor) In Salvador the Olympic flame was welcomed by various capoeira groups Continuing its journey, the Olympic torch was introduced to cultura sertaneja, the culture of the Sertão, a semi-desert region in the Brazilian northeast In Poço Redondo in the state of Sergipe, the flame was welcomed by groups of kids dressed as cangaceiros, local gunslinging Robin Hood figures of the 19th and early 20th century, putting on a show that featured xaxado, a rhythm from Pernambuco that spread throughout the northeast thanks to the cangaceiros (Photo: Rio 2016/Andre Mourao) The flame was received in an emotional ceremony in Serra Barriga, in the region of União dos Palmares, Alagoas state, by collective Afro Caeté who sang chants in homage to legendary slave rebellion leader Zumbi dos Palmares and to West African deity, Shango, the Orisha of fire Afro Caeté welcomes the torch in Serra Barriga, Alagoas (Photo: Rio2016/Fernando Soutello) The sound of the alfaia drums belonging to the group Porto Rico, gave a rhythmic maracatu accompaniment to the lighting of a special celebratory cauldron in Recife From steam train to zipline, how the torch has travelled