Greece handed over the Olympic Flame to the French organizers of this year’s Olympic Games!

In front of 30,000 spectators, at Panathenaic StadiumGreece handed over the Olympic Flame to French organizers of the biggest quadrennial sporting event on the planet: the Paris Olympics.

In a brilliant but moving ceremony in Kallimarmaro, the Olympic Flame completed its journey in Greece (5,000 km) before continuing its journey to the French capital.

The world walking champion Antigone Drisbiotis she was the penultimate torchbearer after 11 days on Greek soil and handed the Flame to the captain of the National Water Polo team Yannis Fundouliswho together with his teammates, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, lit the altar in Kallimarmaro.

For the last time it passed into Greek hands when Prioress Mary Mina carried the torch with the Olympic Flame to President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Kapralos who handed it over to the President of the Organizing Committee of the “PARIS 2024” Olympic and Paralympic Games, Toni Estange.

Shocking was the moment when the great Nana Moushuri performed the National Anthems of Greece and France, captivating all the spectators, while the Olympic anthem was performed by the Kores “CHORES” vocal group accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT.

The Choreography of Priests and Priests inspired by Choreographer Artemis Ignatiou, with the costumes of Mary Katrantzou and with background music by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dimitris Papadimitriou and the ERT Choir under the direction of Michalis Papapetrou, was wonderful.

Performed by tenor Babis Velissarios.

In his greeting, the President of the EOE, President of the European Olympic Committees and member of the IOC Spyros Kapralos said, among other things:

“Today, here, in a packed Panathenaic Stadium, a unique journey of hope and pride, which enlightened the whole of Greece, from one end to the other, is completed. A path of inspiration and symbolism, which united the hearts and eyes of all of us, reminding us of what has value. Solidarity, like-mindedness, peace, rivalry. And it lasted exactly 11 days. 11 days, allow me the term, literally magical.

From its launch in Ancient Olympia on April 16, until today, the Olympic Flame, on its way to Greece, has traveled more than 5200 kilometers and 500 nautical miles, visiting more than 40 cities. From western Greece and Corfu to the easternmost point of the country, the unspoiled Kastelorizo. And from the south and Crete, to the north, Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli.

And her reception was really shocking wherever she passed, in every city, in every region. With traditional but also modern events, crowded gatherings, spontaneous manifestations of enthusiasm and joy and each place to be inspired and do its best to rise to the height of the values ​​of Olympism. And he succeeds.

And the squares, the streets, in every part of Greece that hosted this eternal symbol, the Flame, as if they grew to accommodate everyone, young, old, torchbearers, spectators, participants and observers, locals and visitors. And I can say this with certainty: the souls of the Greeks were lifted by pride and emotion.

With great joy, therefore, and charged with emotion, we all welcome the Olympic Flame together, here, at the Panathenaic Stadium, at the end of the Torch Relay on Greek soil, to hand it over to the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee with feelings of sincere appreciation and solidarity, but also with all our best wishes for a unique event.

An event that will succeed in once again transmitting the Olympic Ideals to the entire world, but above all, it will essentially unite the peoples in a path of peace, solidarity and acceptance. Messages timelessly relevant but now urgently needed as the stakes are now visible.”

The Handover Ceremony, presented by Nikos Aliagas, began with two cultural and sporting events. of Greece was presented by “Wolves Team | Gymnastics Club”, in Choreography by Olympia Dragounis, with the participation of 60 dancers and from France called “Danse des Jeux by Mourad Merzouki” with the participation of 150 students from the Hellenic-French School “EUGENIOS DELACROIX” as well as “The Olympic Cypher” by Ilias Hadjigeorgiou with participation of 6 dancers and a musician.

Musical composition by Dimitris Papadimitriou and during the departure of the Olympic Flame, with the interpretation of the soprano Myrsini Margaritis, while the Artistic Curation of the Ceremony was by Fokas Evangelinos.

Responsible for all the organization of the Ceremonies and the Torch Relay on Greek soil was the President of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee of the EOE Thanasis Vassiliadis and the Master of Ceremonies, the member of the Marketing Committee Giannis Papadimitriou.

The Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony was attended by the wife of the Prime Minister, Mareeva Grabovski, the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis, the General Secretary of Sports, Giorgos Mavrotas, the President of ANOC, Robin Mitchell, the General Secretary of ANOC, Gunilla Lindberg, the member of the IOC and representative of President Thomas Bach, Baron Pierre-Olivier Beckers Vieujant, the President of the International Olympic Academy Isidoros Kouvelos, the Secretary General of the International Mediterranean Games Committee Iakovos Philippoussis, the President of Freedom of Sailing Zoe Konstantopoulou, the Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas , the Mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis and the members of the EOE Plenary.