It is with huge emotion and energy that we are here today in Olympia, the holy land of the Olympic Games. The Games have started today with the lighting of the flame. History shows its most powerful face when we look around this site. We see the same hills and we breathe the same air, under the same sun, that the Greek civilisation enjoyed many centuries ago. The Greeks, history tells us, brought us three of the most valuable assets of a modern society: passion for sport, peace and solidarity. We decided to use these words, among several, ladies and gentlemen, because they have never been so inspiring to the people of our country.

As a proud Brazilian, I stand here on this scared ground to pay our respects to the Olympic Movement. It’s our honour to live this dream, the dream of the Rio Olympic Games, the first in our country, the first in South America, the first in a different region of the world. We’ll remember this moment forever, for centuries.

The Olympic flame means hope to us all, it brings the light of peace and the spirit of truce, Olympic Truce. It also brings a message that can and will unite our dear Brazil, a country that is going through a challenging time in its quest for a brighter future.

The fundamental meaning of the Olympic Games is the lesson that we have to do everything for the generations to come. No one can build the future alone. We are humbly grateful to President Thomas Bach and the International Olympic Committee for their guidance, their help and their support. The contribution of every single person in the IOC – staff, directors, honorary members and members – has been vital. And we thank them for being with us through this amazing journey. They believed in our dream and they have helped us to build it.

And I want also to thank and congratulate President Bach, who has opened the Rio Games to the refugees delegation. It will be our honour, President, to open this door to the wonderful city of Rio and our country.

We are here, thanks to the kindness and the hard work of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. The more we come to Greece, the more we feel at home. Thank you my friends.

The list goes on and on: the Brazilian People, the Brazilian Government: the Federal, State and City Governments. Sponsors, my colleagues from Rio 2016, and the Brazilian Olympic Committee and, of course, our athletes, the main actors of the Games. Here were are represented, with great honour, by the double Olympic volleyball champion Giovani Gávio, the first Brazilian to run with the Rio 2016 torch.

In the hardest moments we learn the true meaning of friendship. With peace in my heart I pay here an homage to the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees of the world. They have helped us to build and organise better games.

Rio is ready to deliver history. These are the same words that I used in Copenhagen when we won (the right to host the Games). We are incredibly proud to have come so far, sailing through some of the most challenging waters the Olympic Movement has seen. And we have achieved our goals because we were never alone.

Allow me to finish by addressing the boys and girls of this world. I will speak to them by talking to the boys and girls that are here today, in sacred Olympia, this holy land. Do not give up on your dreams. Dreams are fun. Dreams make us happier. Dreams make us better. If we had doubted, for a single moment, I would not be here today. And let me tell you, that I bring my heart with emotion. My emotion as an Olympian, which is something that God allowed be to write in my biography.

Let’s live the dream together. Brazil waits for your all. The Rio 2016 Games are blessed to be a wonderful reality and the Olympic flame will guide us to the future we deserve.

Efcharistó, merci, thank you, muito obrigado.