After the Olympic flame was lit in Olympia last week, it went on a tour of Greece before being handed over to Rio 2016 on Wednesday (27 April). On Friday, it arrived in Switzerland, where it visited the United Nations (UN) office in Geneva before going on display at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Next Tuesday in Brasília it will being a 95-day relay across Brazil.

Read below the full speech given by Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman at the UN.

Carlos Nuzman (R) with Ban Ki-moon (C), Thomas Bach and the Olympic flame in Geneva (Photo: Rio 2016/Andre Luiz Mello)

The Olympic flame is here today because the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee have common goals. We dare to say that Rio 2016, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, also share these commitments. We aim for a better future for humanity in a world of peace, dialogue, inclusion and truce. We owe a brighter future to the generations to come, the boys and girls of today.

Sport and diplomacy share values and contribute to social equality in the same magic way. The power of words equals the explosion of energy of an athlete, professional or not, in any crucial moment of competition. The grit and determination of an Olympian equals the stamina of a negotiator. Sport and diplomacy in their respective moments have halted wars.

It is with great honour that we stand here today. Rio 2016 is ready to deliver history. We become stronger when we face an obstacle. We get more obsessed with perfection whenever we realise that we could do more.

Rio has fought for the honour to be an Olympic city because we wanted to expand the frontiers of the Olympic Movement. We wanted the first Games in Brazil, in South America, so people could witness Olympic history, in a new region of the world. We decided to organise Games that are economically sustainable. We are committed to the transformation of Rio because the rule is simple: the core mission of the Games is to deliver a tangible legacy.

We promised to take the Olympic experience to all corners of Brazil and the torch that will be lit in Brasília next Tuesday will do just that.

We brought the sacred Olympic flame to the United Nations for the first time ever, because we want to be partners on your mission to change the world for the better. I want to thank the United Nations for allowing us to be here with the Olympic flame, and especially Mr Secretary General (Ban Ki-moon) and Mr President of the International Olympic Committee (Thomas Bach).

Brazilians will build great Games. Rio 2016 will help our people to feel more confident. The Games will confirm that Brazil will always come out of trouble stronger than before. And we’ll celebrate. We’ll honour the athletes who inspire the youth. We’ll host our visitors with grace, and charm and we will be forever grateful to those who believed in our Olympic dream and helped to turn it into reality.

We have 98 days to go until the opening ceremony in Rio. Not a second to loose. We are ready to host the world. Proud to be Brazilians and grateful to be part of this moment with the UN and the IOC. We know the size of our responsibilities as guardians of the Olympic flame. We are ready. Ready to transform. Ready to help build the future we all deserve.

Thank you very much.  Muito obrigado.