The journalist is in Greece for the Olympic Flame delivery ceremony. What Nikos Aliagas said after the torch relay in Messolonghi, which is also his hometown.
THE Nikos Aliagas he grew up and lives in Paris since his childhood, but it looks like he never left Greece. He comes quite often both to Athens and to Messolonghi, which is also the place of origin of his parents. His recent trip was made for a special purpose that combines both his homelands, ahead of the Olympic Games this summer in Paris.
“All my DNA is here”
THE Nikos Aliagas experienced a very special moment yesterday, as he was one of the torchbearers of the Olympic flame on its multi-day journey across Greece, before it was handed over to the French Olympic Committee on Saturday night at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. And he had the pleasure of running with the Olympic torch in his hometown of Messolonghi, applauded by his fellow citizens.
Since last night he has been in Athens for the rehearsals of the ceremony and he showed us his emotion speaking to the journalists: “The ceremony of handing over and receiving the Olympic Flame is very moving, because here the modern Olympic Games started in the same stadium, with the French Coubertas and the Greek Vikelas. The flame circled Greece in 11 days, arriving and departing again by sea from Piraeus on Saturday. It will take 68 days to reach Paris and the games will begin.”
And he completed by saying: “All these are symbols but it is also very Greece, very soulful.” It is a jumble of cultures and I am glad that as a Greek from France, born there but with all my dna here, I can put a small stone in this effort. I am always moved when he returns to Greece because he has a light, an energy”.
The journalist and presenter, when asked if he wants to return to Greece at some point, stated that he can do so when he gets his pension, while he feels that with the frequent trips he makes here, it is as if he is never missing.
