THE FLAME OF HOPE LIGHTS IN ATHENS |
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The “Flame of Hope” for the Special Olympics VIII World Winter Games which will take place in Idaho, U.S.A. was lit today at Zappeion Megaron, in Athens. The lighting ceremony, which was organized by the Greek Special Olympics Committee, was addressed by the Minister of Culture Mr. Michael Liapis, the Mayor of Athens Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis, the President of the International Special Olympics Committee Dr. Timothy P. Shriver and the President of the Organizing Committee of the Idaho Winter Games, Dr. George Fisher IV. The President of Special Olympics Hellas Mrs. Joanna Despotopoulou, welcoming the honoured guests stressed the importance of the Lighting of the Flame of Hope that carries a message of optimism to all those who give every day a STRUGGLE for life. She also encouraged all those present to commence on a new journey that will finish in 2011 in Athens the host of the next Special Olympics World Games. This important event was attended, among others, by members of the Greek Parliament, the Ambassador of the USA in Greece Mr Daniel V. Speckhard and other countries’Ambassadors, Mrs Natasha Karamanlis, the Goodwill Ambassador Mrs Marianna Vardinogiannis, representatives of Sport and community organizations, a 50 member Delegation from the USA, representatives of the International Media and of course the entire Greek delegation that will participate in the Special Olympics World Winter Games. The priestesses were Special Olympics athletes (trained at the Sikiarideion School for Special Education) with participation from the Lyceum of Greek Women. The ritual and ceremony were complemented by Soprano Mrs Sonia Theodoridou, accompanied by the Athens 2011 octet, while the Special Olympics Hymn was played by its composer and piano soloist Stefanos Korkolis. The Lighting of the Flame of Hope followed the Torch Run, where Special Olympics athletes accompanied by 150 American Law Enforcement Officers and Greek Torch runners, police officers of the Police Academy and the Department of Physical Education of the Hellenic Police, students from the American Community School, the Pierce College and “Malliaras” Training center. The “Flame of Hope” then travelled through historic and cultural monuments of Athens, like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Unknown Soldier Monument, the Presidential Palace, the Marble Panathenaikon Stadium and the statue of the Runner at Hilton, while the Flame ended at the U.S Embassy, welcomed by American Officers at a special Ceremony attended to by the US Ambassador Mr Daniel Speckhard himself.
Wednesday, 12th November 2008
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