Mariana Madureira is in charge of a project that works for female empowerment via tourism and the sale locally made handicrafts. She received the flame from colleague Marianne Oliveira, an emotional experience surrounded by crowds of supporters.

Yuri Ferreira is a very popular 15-year old resident of Diamantina. Yuri was born with Down's syndrome and is a keen sportsman; he already holds a green belt in taekwondo. Locals cheered his name as he ran with the torch today.

The Olympic torch symbolises the unity of all people and today thousands filled the Praça do Mercado in Diamintina, keen to get into the torch relay spirit. Look how many people there are!

Our mascot Vinícius arrives ahead of the Olympic torch and with the kind of speed he's getting around he wouldn't look out of place on the track!

In the rococo church of São Francisco de Assis lie the mortal remains of a legend – Chica de Silva. Born into slavery, Chica da Silva captivated the society of colonial Brazil with her beauty and she soon achieved lasting fame and fortune.

Diamantina is one of the best preserved colonial towns in Brazil. Its baroque architecture, churches, festivals, folklore and traditions attract tourists all year round. The relay will pass through the picturesque Rua da Quitanda in the town centre.

As its name suggests, Diamantina was at the heart of Brazil's diamond industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today the town is a UNESCO world heritage site. A fun and welcoming place, it is home to one of Brazil's liveliest Carnivals.