Nobel Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, wearing elegant Olympic athelet uniform carried the Olympic torch on August 4 on the final leg of the Olympic torch relay in Rio de Janeiro in the build up to the opening of the games.

He took the flame from another celebrity torch bearer in a brief ceremony of transferring the flame from his torch and walked 200 metres with the flame to loud applause and cheers of the flood of crowds on the streets.

During the walk with the flame Professor Yunus held up the flame in one hand and held up three fingers of the other hand to symbolize the three zeroes urging the global audience to work for. These three zeros stand for three social and environmental goals of ‘Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions’, said a press release.

He has been advocating to add a social dimension to all IOC programmes . This was the core message of his address to IOC annual general meeting.  

All along the walk crowds of local children, young men and women surrounded him taking videos and pictures to capture this historical event in their neighbourhood. Many in the crowd recognised him as the father of microcredit which is popular in Brazil. The media truck overflowing with TV and print media cameras from all around the world drove slowly in front of him covering the event.

At the end of the walk he passed on the flame to Ms Michelle Jean, former Governor General of Canada and the present Secretary General of the Union of Francophone Countries.  There was a carnival like atmosphere with music and excitement all around.  The torch relay was broadcast live by www.globosporte.com

In the evening he was invited as a guest of honor at dinner by the IOC President Mr Thomas Bach which was attended by 450 leaders of sports world and distinguished guests like UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon, French President Francois Hollande, HRH Princess Anne, HM King of Netherlands, HRH Crown Prince of Denmark and high officials of the IOC. Professor Yunus was given a seat at the head table along with the distinguished guests and their spouses.  

Earlier in the day he was invited as keynote speaker at conference of the CEOs of Brazilian businesses hosted by the Inter American Development Bank and inaugurated by the Mayor of Rio. Professor Yunus encouraged businesses to get involved in social businesses to tackle some of the pressing issues of society including unemployment and wealth concentration.

Professor Yunus will attend the Olympic events, as the distinguished guest of IOC, for the next few days including the grand opening ceremony on Friday which will be televised globally.