The final two French torch bearers pass the flame at the Handover Ceremony in Athens.
Reflections of the Flame
by Philip Barker
The Olympic Flame is now somewhere on the high seas as it continues its journey to Marseille.
Its dramatic departure aboard the Belem prompted a dramatic light show in celebration in Marseille where the Flame is scheduled to make landfall.
The Flame burst into life on the day before the official Ceremony in Ancient Olympia; the precaution of retaining a Flame from rehearsals proved necessary as when the day of the official Lighting Ceremony dawned cloudy.
The journey around Greece proved unforgettable in what was the longest time it had spent on Greek soil, with the exception of 2004 when the Games were in Athens.
The itinerary included many Greek islands and saw the Flame arrive in Athens towards the midway point before heading out once more.
It was an opportunity for many noted Greek athletes to reconnect with the Flame.
At the Olympic Museum in Athens, the bearer was Nikos Kaklamanakis. He had won windsurfing gold in 1996 and lit the final cauldron at the nearby stadium in 2004.
For those Games, javelin thrower Kostas Gatsioudis had been the first bearer.
Long distance swimmer Spiros Giannotis, silver medallist in Rio, took his son onto the stage when he carried the flame in Corfu.
Giannotis had been the first to receive the Torch in 2012 at Olympia.
The Antirrio Bridge near Patras had opened in time for the 2004 Olympics and once again the Flame passed across.
Panagiotis Giannakis, who competed in basketball in 1996 and returned as team coach in 2004 and 2008, was there to light the Flame.
There was also a stop to honour the Greek national poet Kostis Palamis in Patras.
The Olympic Anthem performed at the home of Kostis Palamis in Patras.
He wrote the lyrics for the Olympic Anthem, performed for the first time at the 1896 Games in Athens.
His house is now a cultural centre and as the Flame arrived it was greeted by a spirited rendition of the hymn.
Meanwhile the first Torchbearer Lefteris Petrounias was otherwise engaged this week.
He won gold on the rings at the European Gymnastics Championships in Rimini.
Meanwhile, the first Paris 2024 bearer Stefanos Ntouskos took silver in the European Rowing Championships in Szeged, Hungary.
Another Greek Olympic Champion Ioannis Melissanidis lit a cauldron in the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.
His gold medal in floor exercises at Atlanta 1996 had been the first in gymnastics for Greece since 1896.
For Melissanidis, it set the seal on a memorable few days. Last week he was given the Freedom of Ancient Olympia, a role which will involve promoting the village.
At Marathon, wrestler Voula Stygouri, who finished fourth in women’s middleweight at Athens 2004, lit the cauldron as the Flame began its final progress towards Athens.
That evening came the Ceremony to entrust the Flame to France and the memorable departure from Piraeus on board the Belem.
The Belem, with the Olympic Flame aboard, sailing through the Corinth Canal.
This recalled memories of 1960 when another sailing ship the Amerigo Vespucci had taken the Flame.
The replica trireme Olympias, which escorted the Belem, evoked the 1988 and 2004 Relays. On both occasions it had conveyed the Flame.
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