The Flame of Hope was lit on Wednesday and presented to officials and athletes of the Special Olympics Berlin 2023 World Games at two separate events, one at the Zappeion Hall and the other at the German School in Athens.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou attended the torch-lighting ceremony that took place at Zappeion Hall before the flames arrived at the German school.
At the Zappeion Hall, Katerina Sakellaropoulou and German Ambassador to Greece Ernst Reichel presented the flame to Sven Albrecht (CEO of the Special Olympics Berlin 2023), Mahmut Özdemir (Parliamentary Secretary of State at the German Interior Ministry) and Dr. Nicola Böcker Giannini (State Secretary for sports at the Department of the Interior and Sports of the German Senate).
They, in turn, presented the torch to Special Olympics athletes Vassiliki Katsudi and Natasha Wermelskirchen, who, together with Berlin police officer Maya Seidel, began the first torch run through the streets of Athens towards the German school, stopping briefly at 12 locations in the capital.
The flame will travel from Athens to Berlin on Thursday. The opening ceremony of the 2023 Special Olympics World Games will take place at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on June 17, and the games will run until June 25.
More Stories
Lordi: this is what they look like today "freaks"winners of Eurovision in 2006
During the restoration of the Hagia Sophia, the minaret was demolished
Greek Air Force parade: fighter jets and helicopters fly over Athens