Football legend Pele will light the Olympic cauldron, if he can make it

BRAZILIAN football legend Pele said he hoped to light the Olympic flame at today’s opening ceremony in Rio but must first see if he can cancel prior sponsorship engagements.

Pele told television channel Globo that he had been invited “personally” to light the flame by the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.

“I have contracts and I am supposed to be travelling. If I manage to cancel the commitments I have, I would like to have the honour of doing it,” the 75-year-old said. “I cannot yet confirm whether I will be here to light the flame.”

Pele’s image rights are managed by United States company Legends 10, which handles his appearances and publicity contracts. “I have a contract with Legends 10 and two events that were already scheduled for that same day,” he said. “On Wednesday we will have a meeting to try to free me from them.”

The striker won three World Cups with Brazil but never competed at the Olympics.

He has undergone several hip operations and walks with a cane.