(REUTERS) - President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, announced on Thursday that 10,000 torch bearers will carry the Olympic torch on its official relay, spanning up to 100 days and 12,000 miles before being lit at the Maracana Stadium on Aug 5, 2016.

It was revealed that the relay will begin with a ceremonial start in Olympia Greece in May 2016, before visiting 350 cities and towns throughout Brazil's 26 states, and aiming to reach 90 percent of the host nation's population.

The torches design has not yet been revealed, as further tests are to take place.

The Olympic torch last visited Rio de Janeiro as part of the Athens Olympic torch relay on June 13, 2004.