From 2,499, we’ve made it to 100. That's how many days there are until the opening ceremony of Rio 2016 Olympic Games and most of the work has already been done. While the organising committee finishes up the last details, fans around the world are getting excited for the sports spectacle that is to come.

With the Olympic torch about to start the Brazilian leg of its relay – involving thousands of torchbearers in over 300 cities – Rio de Janeiro is stepping up its pace in the final months. There are five more test events to come, opening ceremony preparations and the fight for the last spots in 30 sports.

“In 100 days, the Olympic atmosphere will take over and the city of Rio will become one great sporting arena. We are almost there,” said Rodrigo Tostes, Rio 2016's excutive director of operations

Eternal flame

On Wednesday (27 April), the Greek leg of the torch relay will come to an end. After visiting 30 cities and crossing 2,000km of the Olympic homeland, the torch will be officially handed over to the Rio 2016 Organising Committee during a ceremony in Athens.

Ibrahim Al-Hussein, a refugee of the war in Syria, carried the Olympic Torch in Athens (Photo: Getty Images/Milos Bicanski)

Syrian refugee carries Olympic Torch in Athens and calls for end to all wars

The ceremony will be held at the Panathenaic Stadium (stage of the 1896 Games) at 11am (Brazilian time). Greek popstar Sakis Rouvas, the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bacchae dance company will be among the entertainers.

Follow the Olympic flame on Twitter

After visiting the United Nations headquarters and the Olympic Museum in Switzerland, the sacred flame will embark on its journey to Brasília, the host nation’s capital and starting point of the Brazilian leg of the relay that will pass through 327 cities before reaching the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Games.

“The torch relay starts the countdown to the Games, and it will be millions of Brazilians who tell this story,” said Rio 2016's ceremonies director Leonardo Caetano.

Final tests

The fencing test event ends on Wednesday (27 April) leaving Rio 2016 with the five last of 45 test events to deliver. Water polo is currently giving the new Olympic Aquatics Stadium its third and last rehearsal and on Friday (29 April) the three-day handball test event will be staged at the Future Arena, also in Barra Olympic Park.

In May, goalball at the Future Arena closes out the test event programme at the main Olympic Park, before the Olympic and Paralympic athletics test events are staged at Rio Olympic Stadium. Check out the full test event programme. 

Biggest show on Earth

Under the artistic direction of City of God director Fernando Meirelles, plus Daniela Thomas, Andrucha Waddington and Rosa Magalhães, the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 5 August will set the stage for incredible athletic performances with a celebration of Brazilian culture.

Creative team gives glimpse of preparations for opening ceremony

Auditions for the cast of the Rio 2016 ceremonies team will end in the next few days and rehearsals and preparations at the Maracanã will get underway. “In May, we start practising the choreography and getting the Maracanã ready – the surface, the stage, etc,” said Caetano.

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Final sprint

Olympic qualification in gymnastics, shooting, water polo, hockey, equestrian, handball, football and cycling has already been completed, but athletes in 30 out of 42 sports disciplines are still fighting for the last spots.

Follow the race to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Become an Olympic sport expert with our interactive infographics

Over 60 per cent of tickets for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have already been sold, but you still have time to grab your place in the stands. Click here to find out how.

100 days to go, get in the mood...