Torch begins final race to stadium from beneath Rio's Christ statue

Rio de Janeiro

THE Olympic torch was raised before Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue on Friday on the final leg of its journey to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, as Brazil excitedly put the final touches to seven years of preparations.

At the evening ceremony in the famed Maracana soccer stadium, Brazil will declare open the 31st Summer Olympic Games, the first to be held in South America. They run until Aug 21.