Brazil to promote tourism with Oly torch

The Olympic torch relay, which begins in Brasilia and will pass through more than 500 cities before the August 5 opening ceremony, is seen as an opportunity to promote Brazil’s great tourist attractions.

The torch will be carried through the country’s tourist regions as a way to win them international attention.

On its 20,000km relay by road and another 16,000km by air, the Olympic flame will be passed along by 12,000 runners and, though it will go through 500 cities, it will only spend the night in 82 of them.

Those 82 were chosen either because they are state capitals, or have great economic importance, of because they are destinations the Brazilian government wants to promote, state tourism agency Embratur said.

After its tour of…