The flame was lit in Volos after a display of break dancing. [Photo: Hellenic Olympic Committee/Eurokinissi]
Thousands welcome the Olympic Flame
by Philip Barker in Athens
A huge weekend crowd has welcomed the Olympic Flame to the port of Volos where the cauldron was lit by double Olympic rowing medallist Vasilios Polymeros. He won bronze at Athens 2004 in men’s lightweight double sculls and was also silver medallist at Beijing 2008.
Nikos Skiathitis, his crewmate in 2004, also carried the Torch.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) have estimated that around 10,000 lined the streets to watch the Relay pass.
A display of breaking, the new sport for Paris 2024,was held on the beach. This had been arranged by the French institute.
Earlier in the day the Relay had visited HOC offices on Dimitrios Vikelas street where HOC President Spyros Capralos was among those to welcome the Flame.
1996 women’s Olympic high jump silver medallist Niki Bakogianni lit the cauldron at Athanasiou Diakou Square in her home town of Lamia.
The Flame also visited the ancient site at Delphi.
When the first Torch Relay took place in 1936 sequences were re-shot at Delphi for Leni Riefenstahl’s legendary film Olympia.
The Flame continues its journey North but the HOC have confirmed that the Handover Ceremony in Athens on April 26th will be open to the public free of charge.
The similar events for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 were closed to all but dignitaries as part of the precautionary measures against COVID-19.
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