Today, the Olympic Flame conveyed the warmth of universal values to Corfu, which is one of the places in greece it will pass through before being handed over to France, in ahead of the Olympic Games "Paris 2024".
It arrived on the island around 3:00 in the afternoon and followed the route: Lohagou Spyrou Vlaikou (New Fortress), Stamatiou Desylla, Gerasimou Aspioti (Orfeas cinema), Akadimias, Agoniston Politechniou (Aktaion), and ended up at the Lower Square at 3:00 p.m.
There, the welcome ceremony took place, which began with the playing of the Olympic Hymn and the National Anthems of France and Greece, performed by a mixed musical ensemble of the four Philharmonic Bands, namely: 'Old', 'Mantzaros', 'Capodistrias' and 'Spyros Samaras' Ano Korakiana.
This was followed by greetings from the Mayor of Central Corfu and the Diapontia Islands, Stefanos Poulimenos, representative of the French Embassy, and a representative of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
The Flame was carried by distinguished athletes from Corfu, including three Olympians:
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Arsenis Tsiminos, holder of the Youth World record in the 2,000m steeplechase
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Anastasia Mesimeri, a para-athlete who has excelled in swimming competitions
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Charalambos Theodosi, champion in ice swimming
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Maria Georgatou, Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion
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Ioanna Bouziou, Olympic softball champion
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Spyros Yianniotis, Olympic open water swimming champion
Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., the Olympic Flame will follow the route: Anaktora, Arseniou Street, and then to the New Port for departure.
The Mayor's address
"I welcome you to our island, to the historic town of Corfu, which today welcomes with emotion and pride the Olympic Flame. The flame that symbolises and warms peace, noble competition, and the coexistence of peoples. The flame that is Hope and a beacon for a better world, for better times. The flame that illuminates thousands of years of history.
Twenty-eight centuries have passed since the first official recording of the Olympic Games in Olympia, 128 years since their revival in Athens, and 88 years since the decision in Tegea to transfer the Olympic Flame from the birthplace of the Games to the respective hosting city.
The timelessness alone proves the magnitude and value of the event in which we have the honour and fortune to participate at this moment, in the relay from Olympia to the City of Light in Paris.
Today, the people of Corfu rejoice and honour its passage from its soil, reaffirming its belief in the principles of noble competition and the combination of physical achievements and spiritual virtues.
We welcome the Olympic Flame and hope that all the cities of the world will share the ideals of sportsmanship:
Ideals of cooperation, peace, spiritual, and cultural elevation.
In antiquity, the hosting of the Olympic Games halted wars. It meant truce. And today, where the demand for peace and prosperity is more relevant than ever, it unites the entire world.
"Polis," "Democracy," "Olympism," are three Greek words and simultaneously global ones. All three belong to the vocabulary and the deeper meaning of Civilisation.
The Flame of the Olympic Games encompasses powerful symbolism and transmits across the globe values and ideals born in Greece: the Olympic Spirit, fair competition, noble rivalry, and above all, the reconciliation of peoples.
When passed from hand to hand by people of all ages, genders, different cultures, education, religion, and origin, it reaffirms in practice that what unites the inhabitants of our planet is more than what divides them.
The geopolitical situation is not pleasant, as, while we discuss the Olympic Games, two very significant and dangerous wars are unfolding in Ukraine and Gaza, which threaten not only the directly involved parties but also global balance and peace.
Once, the beginning of the Olympic Games automatically brought about a ceasefire among peoples and states. Unfortunately, in practice, this is no longer the case.
Today, all together, from the central square of our town, we wish for reason and peace to prevail.
In closing, I want to congratulate and thank the torchbearers of Corfu, who carried the flame from the port to here and will carry it back to the port again tomorrow morning to continue its journey.
Anastasia Mesimeri, who has excelled in swimming competitions, the Olympic open water swimming champion, Spyros Yianniotis, the Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion, Maria Georgatou, the Olympic softball champion, Ioanna Bouziou, Arsenis Tsiminos, holder of the Youth World record in the 2,000m steeplechase, and Charalambos Theodosi, champion in ice swimming.
I hope the spirit and messages contained and condensed in this Flame will be heard and conveyed everywhere. May the sacred truce of Antiquity be transformed into today's global peace. May the Paris Olympic Games be akin to the Games of the Sacred Altis, of Hercules, of the vision of Coubertin and Vikela, the expectation of all sports lovers, of the entire planet."
CHRISTINA GEREKOU
