The Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony will take place today at the Panathenaic Stadium

An impressive event will take place today at the Panathenaic Stadium, marking the end of the Olympic Torch Relay in our country before it begins its journey to Paris and the start of the 2024 Olympic Games. The Handover Ceremony will start today at 18:30 and is open to all who wish to witness this magnificent event in Kallimarmaro.

The general rehearsal of the event was completed yesterday with great success, ensuring the harmonious organization and development of the Ceremony. The Olympic Torch Relay started 11 days ago from the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Flame is lit by the sun, to arrive today in Kallimarmaro and then to its final destination, Paris. The flame takes on the symbolic character of universality and peace and traces its course in the hands of more than 600 torchbearers. Runners carrying the flame across the country began a symbolic pilgrimage covering more than 5,000 kilometers and lighting up 43 communities along the way.

The Handover Ceremony is going to be an imposing and impressive event, which will reflect the importance of the event. Entry to the public is free until 6pm, but it is recommended to enter the stadium area much earlier, as the Handover Ceremony will start shortly afterwards.

The unique Nikos Aliagas takes on the role of presenter, while the special Nana Mouschouri will play a central role in the event. The majestic artist will perform two performances of the French and Greek national anthems, under the direction of the acclaimed composer Dimitris Papadimitriou, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir of ERT.

The Olympic Anthem will be performed by the vocal ensemble “CHÓRES” accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT, with the artistic direction of the choir, Marina Satti and the musical direction of Michalis Oikonomou. Also, during the Handover Ceremony at the Kallimarmaro Panathenaic stadium, the tenor Babis Velissarios will give us a performance of “Olympionikos”, in the poetry of Pindar, rendered by Giorgos Heimonas and set to music by Dimitris Papadimitriou, accompanied by the orchestra and the choir of ERT .

At the end of the ceremony, Spyros Kapralos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, will hand over the Olympic Torch to Tony Estangue, president of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee, to continue its journey to Paris. This special event will be broadcast directly from the ERT1 station.