Torchbearers Kyriakos Amoutzas, Kyriakos Bakirtzis, Nicoleta Barba, Thanasis Mimikos, Konstantinos Baniotis, Haroun Molla, Dimitris Baxevanidis talk to “X” about the great honor of being part of the centuries-old tradition of the Olympic Games
Mayor Yiannis Garanis hoped that the Olympic Games would be a trigger for peace. In our city, the consul of France in Thessaloniki, Jean-Luc Laveau, and the president of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, Thanasis Vassiliadis
On the way from Ancient Olympia to Paris, where this year the 2024 Olympic Games are being held, the Olympic Flame also passed through our city, Komotini. In the hands of 7 torchbearers, entrusted by the Olympic Committee or the Municipality of Komotini, the flame passed through the center of our city, with people applauding, young and old taking pictures and Komotini entering the world map of the event.
The official groundbreaking ceremony
The Komotini high jump champion Konstantinos Baniotis was the one who had the great honor of lighting the torch at the ceremony in front of the Komotini Town Hall, in the presence of a crowd of people and the city authorities. The echo of the Olympic Anthem, the national anthem of the organizer France and the national anthem of the creator Greece, accompanied by the raising of the flags on the masts of the Town Hall, moved the crowd, while the presence of children, who are the next generation of all nations, stood out.
“The ancient spirit of Greece, of the Olympic Games, of world peace and brotherhood we welcome today in unspoiled Komotini”, said the mayor Yiannis Garanis schematically in his speech, wishing the Olympic Games to be a trigger for the return of peace worldwide. “We are proud of the great female and male athletes of Komotini”, he stated cheerfully.
“The games were born here, in you, in Greece”, announced Jean-Luc Laveau, representative of the Organizing Committee of the “Paris 2024” Olympic Games, consul general of France in Thessaloniki. One hundred years after the last summer Olympic Games were held in France, Paris is honored to host them, he informed the world.
Coexistence, brotherhood, peace, are the messages of the Olympic Games, highlighted the representative of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and president of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, Thanasis Vassiliadis. “The future of all nations is the children,” he noted and emphasized “we are custodians of the flame”.
After the speeches, souvenirs were exchanged between the organizer France, the Municipality of Komotini and the Olympic Committee.
The torchbearers are excited and proud
The flame was first received by Kyriakos Amoutzas, teacher of Physical Education, at the western entrance of the city to the statue of Venizelos. There are nice moments that you remember for your whole life, but the moment you carry a 2,500-year-old story is the most shocking for a physical education teacher, he characteristically told us, declaring himself proud and blessed.
Carrying the Olympic Flame is the highest honor for any athlete, Mr Kyriakos Bakirtzis, Muay Thai champion and member of the National Team. At the same time, he conveyed his wish to be able to participate in the Olympic Games, representing Greece and our city
In Tsanaklio, she received the flame Nicoleta Barba, Freestyle Wrestling champion, declaring herself very moved and proud. I believe there is nothing more honorable for an athlete, she said visibly moved by the love of the world.
He characterized his participation as a great honor Thanasis Mimikos, disabled basketball player Herodikos and member of the National Basketball Team. At the same time, he emphasized that his participation is a promotion for people with disabilities, so that they can do what they love.
It was a huge honor to light the torch at the official ceremony in his city, o Konstantinos Baniotis, high jump champion. The reason I did sports was the Olympic Games, he said characteristically, wishing that it would be a beautiful event.
I felt great joy and emotion, to have the Flame in my place, were his words Harun Molla, Mountain Biking champion. I have never experienced such a feeling before, he added, visibly moved and grateful.
The Physical Education teacher characterized his participation as a great honor Dimitris Baxevanidis, who has served the sport in many capacities for almost half a century. He wished health, happiness, joy and peace.
It should be noted that Kyriakos Amoutzas and Dimitris Bexavanidis were selected by the Olympic Committee, while Kyriakos Bakirtzis, Nicoleta Barba, Thanasis Mimikos, Konstantinos Baniotis and Haroun Molla from the Municipality of Komotini. They all thanked them several times in their speech, the people responsible for the selection for the honor.
