Brazilian Zico fulfills his dream of carrying the Olympic torch
Brazilian soccer star Zico criticized the organizers of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, after carrying the Tokyo Olympic torch.
Zico, coach of Kashima Antlers and former Japan coach, carried the torch 200 meters in Kashima on Saturday.
Zico, 68, wrote on his Instagram account, “After my country and city deprived me of the honor of carrying the Olympic torch, today my dream of participating in the Olympic Games has come true. I thank the city of Kashima and Japan for giving me this opportunity.”
Zico, who played for the Japanese team between 1991 and 1994, described carrying the torch as "an unforgettable day in my life".
Kashima will host one of the semi-final matches of the men's Olympic soccer tournament.
Former midfielder and striker Zico remains a hero to fans of Rio's most popular club, Flamengo, and played for the much-admired Brazil team in the 1982 World Cup that Italy eliminated in the final rounds.
And that wasn't enough for the Rio organizers to invite him to carry the torch.
Zico indicated that he was not included in the Brazil team participating in the 1972 Munich Olympics, saying: "I almost stopped playing football after I was excluded."
