Olympic Flame Lit In Ancient Olympia
- by XpatAthens
- Thursday, 12 March 2020
The Tokyo Olympic torch relay began at the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony, which was held today in Olympia with limited attendance due to coronavirus concerns.
“We are especially grateful that you made today’s ceremony possible, even under difficult circumstances,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a speech, thanking the president of the Greek Olympic Committee at the site of the Ancient Olympics.
The lighting ceremony was held without spectators and was attended by 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Flame will spend 8 days in Greece before leaving for Japan for a 121-day journey until the July 24 Opening Ceremony.
“Given the unprecedented circumstances the world is facing, the health and safety of the thousands of torchbearers, spectators, and staff will be the first priority along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay both in Greece and Japan,” the IOC said in a press release.
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