The Olympic Torch, one of the great symbols of the Olympics, arrives in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday before the Opening Ceremony Friday. Here is a look at the long road the torch took to arrive in Rio.
1. Brazilians Question How Disabled A Torchbearer Is After Video Of Fall Goes Viral
In May, João Paulo Nascimento, a wheelchair-bound basketball player had the extent of his disability questioned after millions of Brazilians watched a viral video of him falling out of his wheelchair while carrying the Olympic Torch. tried pulling off a trick with his wheelchair which unfortunately landed him on the pavement.
Nascimento was able to get himself back into his own wheelchair after the fall which prompted many Brazilians to inquire just how disabled the athlete was. The athlete subsequently explained via social media that his wheelchair is absolutely necessary since he suffers from knock knees.
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2. A Jaguar Died For The Rio Olympics
During the relay of the Olympic Torch, a jaguar was shot dead June 20 after attacking a soldier. The wild animal was on display with handlers during the torch relay and suddenly became violent.
When four tranquilizer darts did not calm the ferocious feline, a soldier shot and killed the animal. A cartoon yellow and green (the two main colors of the Brazilian flag) jaguar called Ginga is the mascot of the Brazilian Olympic team.
3. Bucket Of Water Fails To Take Out The Torch
A 27-year-0ld man landed behind bars after trying to extinguish the Olympic Torch on June 26 with a bucket of water. The attacker claimed that it simply, “was a joke, a dare on Facebook,” according to a police officer who spoke with Reuters.
In the video, the man stands to the left of the moving relay and throws his bucket towards the torch. After his failure to extinguish the spirit of the Olympics, the perpetrator fled the scene of the crime..
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4. Torch Gets Attacked By Man Bearing A Fire Extinguisher
Where water failed, one man hoped a fire extinguisher would succeed. As the torch passed through the city of Joinville on July 13, the relay was interrupted by a man (who could not be identified) attempting to take out the torch with a fire extinguisher. The police intervened and neutralized the would-be torch trasher.
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5. Torchbearer Painfully Face-plants
A woman carrying the sacred Olympic Torch hit pavement while jogging, due to the proximity of police escorts and security.
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6. Bystander Takes Selfie And Police Motorcycle Crashes During Torch Relay
As the torch continues to make its journey through Brazil, the relay grinds to a halt after a police motorcycle and a police bike crash into one another. During the ensuing chaos, an onlooker steps onto the street and takes a selfie.
The selfi-grabber was caught on video. After taking the selfie, the man rather casually walks backwards.
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7. Protesters Finally Extinguish The Olympic Flame
After months of trying to take out the Olympic Torch, protesters finally succeeded on July 27. Teachers on strike slowed down the torch relay to the point, exposing and extinguishing the flame.
In addition to snuffing out the olympic flame, the protesters decided to throw rocks at cars. As a result of the violence, a child was hospitalized.
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8. The Final Troubled Sprint
On three separate occasions Tuesday, the Olympic Torch was under threat while getting closer to Rio de Janeiro. At long last, the torch is expected to arrive in the 2016 Summer Olympics host city on Wednesday.
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