After the exciting journey of the Olympic Flame for 11 days on Greek soil and after receiving an enthusiastic reception everywhere, the time has come for it to be handed over to the delegation of the “Paris 2024” Organizing Committee.
The Handover Ceremony will begin today, Friday, April 26, at 18:30 at the Panathenaic Stadium with Nana Mouschouri playing a central role, while Nikos Aliagas will be the host of the event.
The Olympic Light will be brought to the Panathenaic Stadium by the walking champion Antigoni Drisbiotis, while the last Torchbearer in Kallimarmaro will be the captain of the National polo team Yiannis Fundoulis, together with his teammates, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
At the end of the event, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Kapralos, will hand over the Olympic Torch to the president of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee, Toni Estange, to continue his journey to Paris.
Entry will be free for the public who are requested to arrive at the Panathenaic Stadium on time.
Detailed program – start 18:30:
Cultural and sports event of Greece “Wolves Team”. Gymnastics Club”
(Choreography by Olympia Dragounis, with the participation of 60 dancers)
French cultural-sports event “Danse des Jeux by Mourad Merzouki” with the participation of 150 students from Greek-French School “EUGENIOS DELACROIX” and “The Olympic Cypher” by Ilias Hatzigeorgiou with the participation of 6 dancers and a musician
Olympic Anthem – Hoisting of the Olympic Flag (The Olympic Anthem is performed by the vocal group Kores “CHORES” accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT)
National Anthem of France – Hoisting of the French Flag
National Anthem of Greece – Hoarding of the Greek Flag
The national anthems are performed by Nana Mouschouri accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michalis Oikonomou and the ERT Choir under the direction of Michalis Papapetrou.
Entrance of the High Priestess of Mary Minas, Priests and Priests
Olympic Flame Entrance – Torch Relay inside the Stadium
Lighting the Altar (The last Olympic torchbearer and captain of the Polo team Ioannis Fundoulis will light the altar accompanied by the National Team)
Choreography of Priests and Priests (National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dimitris Papadimitriou and the ERT Choir under the direction of Michalis Papapetrou.
Interpretation: Tenor Babis Velissarios
Greetings from the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, president of the European Olympic Committees, and member of the IOC Mr. Spyros Kapralos
Greetings from the President of the Organizing Committee of the “PARIS 2024” Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mr. Tony Estange
Afi Dada from Prioress Mary Mina
Handover of the Torch by the Protheir to the president of the EOE, president of the European Olympic Committees and Member of the IOC, Mr. Spyros Kapralos
Handover of the Olympic Flame by the president of the EOE, president of the European Olympic Committees and Member of the IOC, Mr. Spiro Kapralos to the president of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee, Mr. Tony Estange
Departure of the Olympic Flame (Music Composition: Dimitris Papadimitriou,
Interpretation: Tweeter Myrsini Margariti)
Traffic regulations in Attica due to the Olympic Torch Relay
Temporary traffic arrangements will take place today, in the areas of the municipalities of Megarea, Marathon, Lavreotiki, Palaio Faliro, Kallithea and Athens due to events during the handing over and receiving of the Olympic Flame in the context of the XXXIII Olympic Games “PARIS 2024”.
In particular, during the morning and afternoon hours, there will be a gradual and temporary stoppage of traffic along the road sections below, as follows:
– Municipality of Megareo (hours 08:00 – 09:00):
Minos – around the Central Square of Megara (Ceremony) – October 28 – Byzantium.
– Municipality of Marathon (hours 09:45-11:45):
Marathon Lake – near Platia Dim. Papastamou – around Heroes’ Square – Marathon Street – Dimokratis – Marathon Road Start (Ceremony) – Marathon Street (Nea Makri).
– Municipality of Lavreotiki (12:10-13:30):
E.O. Rafina-Lauriou (park) – Kokori Panagioti – Cultural Center of Lavrio – Agia Paraskevi – Kountourioti – Souniou Street – Souniou Archaeological Site (Ceremony).
– Municipality of Palaio Faliro (hours 14:15-14:40):
Posidonos St. – around EUGENIDIOU IDRIMATOS – Iasonos – Amphitheas St.
– Municipality of Kallithea (hours 14:40-15:50):
Katsoni Street – Doirani – Evrypidou – STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CULTURAL CENTER (Ceremony) – Syggrou Street.
– Municipality of Athens (15:50 – 18:30):
Syngrou St. – Amalia St. – around Syntagma Square – Mitropoleos – Ermou – Athena – around Omonia Square – Stadium – Amerikas – Panepistium – Patision (October 28th) – Alexandra St. – Hippokratous – Akadimias St. – Vas. Sophia – Herodos Atticus – Kallimarmaro (Delivery Ceremony).
The Police appeals to the drivers of vehicles to avoid driving and stopping and parking their vehicles along the mentioned routes of the Olympic Torch Relay and to follow the signals of the traffic controllers.
