Itabirito had a very special torch kiss. Couple Eduardo and Iara Xavier have travelled 225 thousand kilometres and visited 560 Brazilian towns looking for people who make a difference in their communities. In total, they catalogued 1,150 projects.

The most famous son of the town of Itabirito was Telê Santana, coach of the unforgettable Brazil football sides of the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. They may have failed to win either trophy, but the team of Zico, Socrates and Falcão dazzled the world.