Relay in Greece

The route of the flame in Greece

For the Greeks, the Olympic Torch Relay is the symbol of a sacred heritage given to them by their ancestors, bearing a message of universality and peace.

The relay through Greece is initiated by a symbolic act: the first torchbearer leaves the ancient stadium in Olympia and arrives in front of the stele dedicated to Pierre de Coubertin, where, according to his will, his heart rests in the cradle of the ideals to which he dedicated his life. It is precisely at this point that the torchbearer passes the Olympic flame to the second torchbearer, who represents the host country of the Olympic Games.

An 11-day relay throughout Greece will then begin. More than 550 torchbearers will carry the flame, which will arrive on April 26 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, where the modern Games were born.

The route of the flame in Greece was designed to meet four main aspirations:

• To cover the whole of Greece, connecting the four ends of the country
• To bring together the most important archaeological sites in Greece—the guardians of the ancient civilization’s treasures
• To travel across the emblematic landscapes that make up the beauty of the country
• To honour the historical ties uniting France and Greece

The bonds between Greece and France

The choice of the route of the Olympic flame in Greece is based on the wish to honour the history that links Greece and France—one that has developed over the years into a powerful friendship.

France is closely linked to the Greek War of Independence of 1821 against the Ottoman occupation. The Greek independence movement triggered a great wave of sympathy and support for the Greek revolution in France. This movement was expressed in great works and in the commitment of writers, artists and French intellectuals such as Eugène Delacroix, Victor Hugo and René de Chateaubriand to the Greek cause.

The historical and cultural links between Greece and France are endless. France is present everywhere in Greece, not only through historical and cultural references and testimonies, but also and above all in the minds and hearts of all Greeks.