The redeeming Christ, a world icon located on the top of the Cerro Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, was dyed with the red, yellow and green colors of the Bolivian flag in a gesture of adhesion to the celebrations by the Bicentennial of Independence.
“The Redeemer will be illuminated (…) with the colors of the Bolivian flag, An extraordinary fact, an unprecedented event in history, ”said the Bolivian consul In Brazil, Ramiro Flores, hours before it happened in an interview with Bolivia TV.
The ceremony, scheduled between 17:30 and 19:00 (local time), began with the intonation of the national anthem at the top of Corcovado, starring Bolivian residents living in Brazil, who congregated in the emblematic site where the statue of 38 meters high rises.
According to Flores, this symbolic act seeks to send a message of peace, unity and hope to all Bolivians, both in national and outside territory. He also highlighted the significant migrant presence in the neighboring country: it is estimated that In Rio de Janeiro they reside between 3,000 and 4,000 Bolivian families, in Minas Gerais about 7,000, and in São Paulo (where the highest concentration is located) between 300,000 and 350,000.
