Greece bade farewell to the Olympic Flame with pride and emotion at the Handover Ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos and 30.000 spectators. The Flame will now continue its journey to Rio de Janeiro for the Opening Ceremony of the XXXI Olympic Games, on August 5, in Maracana.
The Olympic Flame was handed over by the HOC President Spyros Capralos to the President of the Organizing Committee for the “RIO 2016” Olympic Games.
The torch relay on Greek territory was completed earlier, with the world rowing champion Katerina Nikolaidou being the last torchbearer and lighting the cauldron in the Panathenaic Stadium. In the Stadium, Niki Bakogianni, Ioannis Melissanidis and Nicole Kyriakopoulou also carried the Flame.
The impressive ritual performed by the High Priestess Katerina Lehou and the Priestesses was inspired by the choreographer Artemis Ignatiou to the music of the composer Yiannis Psimadas while the national anthems of Greece and Brazil as well as the Olympic Anthem were performed by the Children’s Olympic Choir of the Hellenic Olympic Academy.
The ceremony began with eight Olympic champions entering the Panathenaic Stadium holding the flags of Greece and Brazil. The Olympians were Pyrros Dimas, Nikos Kaklamanakis, Voula Kozombili, Irini Aindili, Thomas Bimis, Virginia Kravarioti, Mirela Maniani, Nikos Syranidis, Vassilis Polymeros, Stelios Mygiakis, Georgia Lara and Antigoni Roumbesi.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of the Interior Panagiotis Kouroumblis, the Deputy Minister of Finance Dimitris Mardas, the Minister of Sport Stavros Kontonis, the Mayor of Athens Giorgos Kaminis, the President of the International Olympic Academy Isidoros Kouvelos, the Secretary General of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Manolis Katsiadakis, the Mayor of Marathonas Ilias Psinakis and many executives of sport and politics.
During his speech the HOC President stated: “We were all amazed when we witnessed the birth of the Olympic Light, one week ago at the Temple of Hera. We felt the aura of our ancestry in the ancient stadium of Olympia, we saw Greeks and friends from abroad fascinated by the site and the evocative Lighting Ceremony of the Flame.
The appeal of the Torch Relay, throughout its course, was absolutely impressive. In every metre, out of the 2.200 kilometers it overall covered, it came across moved, warm hearts, longing to receive the timeless messages for love, peace and friendship. Young and old, men and women, gathered to wish their very best for the long journey of the sacred Light to Rio.
The stop-over of the Flame at the refugee camp of Elaionas and Ibrahim, the Syrian athlete who carried the Flame, brought a very special meaning to this year’s Torch Relay and a unique message of solidarity and fraternity among peoples.
We are proud and moved for the unique moments that the Flame has once more offered to us, the Flame, which still is the most powerful symbol of Olympism.
The journey of the Flame within Greece is drawing to a close, right here, at the Panathenaic Stadium and now starts its journey to Brazil.”
The President of the “RIO 2016” Organizing Committee said: “Excitement is building in Brazil… and will build even more as the Torch Relay lights up all parts of the country.
The Relay will showcase to the world the amazing beauty of Brasil. It will also spread the spirit of the Games throughout the country.
It will visit 329 towns and cities, across all five regions… Travelling 20,000 kilometres by road and 10,000 miles by air… And being carried by 12,000 Torchbearers…
Who will carry the flame and its hope, and share it… from hand to hand… Energizing our young people, uniting our communities, and showcase the timeless power of the Games to create a better world.
We are keeping our promise to give millions of people the chance to be part of history. What we also promise is deliver great Games. We understand our responsibility as guardians of this Olympic Flame… Our responsibility to the athletes… To our visitors… And to all those who draw inspiration from the unique power of the Olympic Movement.
We understand… and we are ready.”
After the end of the Handover Ceremony the famous Greek singer Sakis Rouvas, who voluntarily led the program “Greece you can do it”, entered the Stadium, accompanied by the orchestra “Mobile” conducted by Theodoros Orfanidis and the Cantabile choir of the municipal Conservatory of Zografou, performing songs of the great Greek composers Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hatzidakis. The Brazilian dance group Quilombo followed by the dance company “VACCHAI” who danced Greek traditional dances.