The official reception ceremony took place in the Ancient Theater and the altar was lit by the mayor of Larissa Thanasis Mamakos, imitating the mayor of Piraeus Yiannis Moralis.
“This flame, wherever it passes, we want this message to pass: We are all one. We are brothers, we must share this heritage of ours. With all the Greeks and let’s make a strong voice, for the whole world. To show that we are all one. That is why today, Larissa, is added to the chain of cities that becomes a link in the chain of the whole universe, to reach distant Paris. Where we believe and expect, to convey the messages. Let the Olympic and Paralympic Games be CLEAN”, emphasized the president of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee of the EOE, Mr. Athanasios Vassiliadis during his speech.
The mayor of Larissa, Thanasis Mamakos, said among other things: “This flame, the flame of the Olympic Games, contains strong symbolism and spreads throughout the world, values and ideals, which were born in Greece 2,800 years ago. From here, from the Ancient Theater of Larissa, at the crossroads of Thessaly, with the historical and cultural burden of so many centuries, we all become a link in the unique chain of a long journey and address the World Community, calling for peace and respect for the eternal principles, values and fundamental rights. I feel sincerely grateful and I am especially happy that I was given the opportunity as the Mayor of Larissa, to hold the torch with the flame of the Olympic Games and light the altar in our city. With hope and emotion, we turn our eyes to Paris, the city of light, which will host the 33rd Olympiad. Good luck!”
The representative of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games “Paris 2024” was the Consul General of France in Thessaloniki, Mr. Jean Luc Lavaud, who said, among other things: “Nothing more beautiful could represent the relationship that unites our two peoples than this sacred flame that will spread from city to city the enthusiasm of all of us. The creator of the Olympic torch, Mathieu Lehanneur, was inspired by 3 central ideas that characterize the Olympic Games “Paris 2024”:
• The equality that characterizes the first Games of gender equality and inclusion in History,
• The water that is connected to the Mediterranean basin and the transoceanic Torch Relay to Tahiti, and expresses the environmental dimension of the Games,
• The appeasement offered by the message of peace and unity projected by the Games.
Celebration, commitment and legacy are the 3 key words that shine through the passage of the Olympic Flame, which every day brings us closer to this great event. Date in Paris.
The mayor of Larissa, Mr. Thanasis Mamakos, received the Olympic Flame from the athlete from Larissa, Mrs. Theopistis Georgiadou, and carried it inside the Ancient Theater. A little earlier, the flame had arrived in Larissa, with the torchbearers, Yannis Valaora (in apotheosis) and Nicoleta Vaiopoulou. At the end of the Ceremony, the Mayor handed over the flame to the municipal councilor, Tassos Kourdis, followed by Larissa athlete Phaedra Kaltekis and the former deputy governor, Athanasios Paidis.
EXCHANGE
Symbolic gifts were exchanged by Mr. Lavaud and Vassiliadis, with the general secretary of the Decentralized Administration of Thessaly & St. of Greece, Mr. Konstantinos Tzanakoulis, the mayor of Larissa, Mr. Thanasis Mamakos, the president of the Municipal Council of Larissa, Mr. Garyfallia Karystianou, the vice-mayors Mr. Iraklis Gerogiokas, Fotios Tzatzakis and Thomas Retsianis to award the torchbearers and give commemorative gifts to the young companions of the Olympic Flame.
The “present” at the event was given, among others, by the MPs of Larisa, Mr. Christos Kellas, Maximos Harakopoulos, Vassilis Kokkalis, the deputy regional governor, Dimitris Tsetsilas, the regional councilors, etc. Christos Gourobinos, Grigoris Goudopoulos, Vassilis Simos, Tania Dokou, Vassilis Pinakas, Eleftheria Tzanakoulis, the deputy mayors of the Municipality of Larissa, etc. Konstantinos Kalogiros, Evangelos Papalexis, Achilleas Kellas, Panagiotis Dalampyras, Konstantinos Kalambalikis, Andreas Andritsopoulos, Dimitris Leonidakis, Christos Terzoudis, Konstantinos Vlahoulis, the Commander of the 1st Army Lt. General Dimokritos Konstantakos, the Chief of Staff of the 1st Army sub general Konstantinos Theodoropoulos, the Police Director of Larissa Agapios Harakopoulos, the mandated councilor, Mrs. Eurydiki Goula, the municipal councilors, Konstantinos Argyropoulos, Eleftherios Tsoumanis, Athanasios Drystellas, Christos Agoritsas, Elisavet Papadopoulou, the managing director of the “Eleftheria” Journalistic Organization George Michalopoulos, the general secretary of the Municipality of Larissa, Mr. George Ziaragas, and other representatives of the Armed Forces and Security Forces, as well as social, cultural, economic and business entities of Larissa.
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa was responsible for the zoning of the Ancient Theater, with the head, Mrs. Stavroula Sdrolia, also giving the “present” to the Ancient Theater.
The Reception and Touching Ceremony, at the Ancient Theater of Larissa, was attended by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Larissa, under the direction of conductor Mrs. Maria Panagopoulou, and the Mixed Choir of the DOL, under the direction of conductor, Mr. Dimitris Karvounis. The Priestess of the Ceremony was Mrs. Evelina Dourou, in a dress inspired by the Thessalian land, the gold of wheat and the sun, with symbols of the olive and the ear of corn, symbols of fruitfulness, resurrection and rebirth.
The Ceremony at the Ancient Theater was supervised by the Municipality of Larissa, while the presentation was made by the Public Relations Manager of the Municipality, Ms. Chryssa Tziastoudis.
SAKIS VASILIADIS: Three or four medals in Paris…
The ceremony is possible in Larissa
We don’t deal with elections…
By Sot. Kella
The president of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, Sakis (Athanassios) Vassiliadis, was in Larissa yesterday (because of acquired speed, he was mentioned by the Municipality as the president of the Olympic Torch Relay, which is Spyros Kapralos) where after the end of it he spoke to “EtD” about the lighting ceremony of the Olympic Flame saying: “It was really a very powerful ceremony in an archaeological site whose history I know and I think it gives an additional value to the event because it also highlights new cultures.” We thank the authorities, the Mayor, representatives and I was impressed that even though it was morning there were a lot of people and it shows that we are doing well.
I also want to express thanks to the Ephorate of Antiquities as it is not easy to grant such a monument for an event.
*Are you happy with the torch relay so far?
“Wherever we pass there is a great response, thousands of people are left and right. It fills us with joy and optimism and I believe we will have even more because we have already taken the pulse”.
*For the competitive presence of Greece in the Olympic Games, what are the predictions?
“The qualifiers are progressing because they have not yet been completed, but I think we will make our presence felt. We can’t expect much, but I think we can get 3-4 medals.”
*Your sport is gymnastics…
“In May we will qualify for the National Ensemble, while Petrounias has already secured it. I estimate that everything will go well and the National Ensemble will be present in Paris.”
*Is there an estimate for the EOE elections?
“We’ll see what happens with the Federations first… and so I can’t predict anything.”
*Did the Eugenakis law for the banning of actors over 70 finally bear fruit?
“I would not like to comment because the reality I live in leaves me with nothing else. I wish good luck to all the contributors to do their job well.”
YIANNIS VALAORAS: Awe of the Flame…
The veteran international football player of AEL Giannis Valaoras said: “I want to thank the Mayor of Larissa for choosing me to be one of the torchbearers and I was in awe of my participation. It’s a great honor and it makes you shudder when you hold the torch with the Olympic Flame.
I also want to thank the young people who shouted the slogan that moves me “the time has come for Yannis Valaoras” and I hope that the time will come again when AEL will play in the big division again”.
TASSOS KOURDIS: Blessed
The municipal councilor and veteran Tasos Kourdis said: “What can I say, honor and pride. I feel blessed that God has called me to participate in such a great event. The Olympic Flame is a symbol of peace and hope. At the same time, it also illuminates the message of hope for life, since everyone has the right to sport either in the Olympic Games or in the Paralympics”.
PHAEDRA KALTEKI: Honor and joy…
The European champion in Tae Kwon do from Larisa Phaedra Kalteki said: “It was a pleasure and a great honor for me to be a torchbearer in my city. It eases my sadness of not participating in the Olympics as in the pre-Olympic tournament in Sofia last March after two winning matches, I was “defeated” with a… draw by the Russian gymnast, Tokyo Olympian. But I hope to be present in 2028!”.
