During the relay, when the flame is passed from one torchbearer to another its segments open upwards, symbolizing a person's body stretching its boundaries.

The shape of the segments represents the esplanades (Calçadão in Portuguese) of the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema.

[4] According to the classification made by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics,the 27 Brazilian states are divided into 5 Geographic Regions (Central-West,Southeast,South,Northeast and North) and given the short time to carry out the activities, those first 5 cities that received the Reference Centers of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and also due to their historical value for the Paralympic Movement in the host country.Along their own symbolisms and motives,each city that the relay included celebrated a different Paralympic and Rio 2016 value: in Brasília, it was the equality; in Belém, determination; in Natal, inspiration; in São Paulo, transformation; in Joinville, courage; and in Rio de Janeiro as the host city, passion.

[5] On September 2, 2016, Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, held a ceremony for the lighting of the Heritage Flame.

On the day of the opening ceremony, 1984 Paralympic gold medalist Marcia Malsar was carrying the torch at the Maracanã Stadium when she slipped and fell on the rain-covered floor.