Xu Wen-Ting Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 Hi friends in GB, as a person live in host country of 2008, i think it's time for me to start this topic. . About few days,the international torch relay will start. i think it's also a great time for us to share the peace and Olympic spirit. Olympia is the place called people all over the world get together. And here is Olympia in our hearts... In future 100 days,Please post and share the news & pix about Torch Relay 2008 in your country and citiy. i think that's what PYRROS2004 did in Before Athens 2004... So let's start...
Xu Wen-Ting Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Posted March 15, 2008 First and last torchbearers in Greece announced (L-R): Maria Nafpliotou, choreographer Artemis Ignatiou, Pigi Devetzi and Alexandros Nikolaidis (BEIJING, March 13) -- On Wednesday at a press conference hosted by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), reporters were provided with the identities of the first and last torch bearers for the Greek leg of the torch relay. Alexandros Nikolaidis, 2004 Olympics silver medalist in taekwondo (80 kg) will accept the torch from High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou as the first runner, and Pigi Devetzi, silver medalist in the triple jump in the Athens Olympic Games, will bring the torch to Panathenian Stadium on March 30 as the last torch bearer.Alexandros Nikolaidis, the first torch bearer, told reporters that "All athletes at the beginning of their careers have dreams. This was mine. It's very difficult to express what I feel because there are no words to describe the importance of the Olympic Flame. I would like to express my gratitude to the HOC for the honor and hope to stand up to this honor morally and in the competition." The High Priestess of the Lighting Ceremony Maria Nafpliotou presented Minas Kyriakou, HOC President, provided details about the path the flame will take while it is in Greece. "The Olympic Flame will run on Greek territory, 1528 km, in the hands of 605 torchbearers, through 16 prefectures, 43 municipalities, 12 municipality districts, and 4 communities while 29 ceremonies will be held. I would also like to mention something unique. At the Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, will be present the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, and the IOC President, Dr Jacques Rogge." On the eve of the handover to Beijing, the flame will spend the night on the ancient Acropolis, where Voula Kozoboli, 2004 Olympic silver medalist (women's water polo), will light the cauldron placed on the altar. On Sunday morning, the flame will move again, held up by a representative of the Greek national basketball team, Dimitris Diamantidis, who also plays internationally. On the afternoon of March 30, the flame will reach the site of the 1896 Athens Olympic Games, where the first session of the modern Olympics took place. Here, the flame will be ceremoniously passed to the Beijing Olympic Committee. The last torch bearer, athlete Pigi Devetzi, stated, "It is very difficult to express my feelings, I am deeply moved and would like to thank the HOC for proposing to me to participate in this ancient ceremony. I hope the Light and the Power of the Flame will give to all the Greek athletes and myself the strength to make Greece proud. I also hope that the Flame will enlighten all those who rule the world so that we can live moments of peace, joy and love." During the press conference, HOC President Minos Kyriakou spoke about his country's Olympic responsibility. "Four years after the lighting of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games on the 25th of March, 2004, the moment has come again for our country. The Olympic Flame will be ignited in Olympia and will be delivered to the 2008 BOCOG." "The HOC has ensured all the requirements for a perfect but modest Ceremony exactly as imposed by history, tradition and of course, the area of Ancient Olympia. We have also secured seven days for the Olympic Torch Relay on Greek territory, as it happened in Athens 2004," he continued. Maria Nafpliotou, the ceremony's High Priestess, said, "I feel very happy and proud. I know, as a Grecian, the importance of this Ceremony. I am personally moved due to my childhood memories and hope that together with the new choreographer, Mrs. Artemis Ignatiou, we shall stand up to all expectations."
Xu Wen-Ting Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Posted March 15, 2008 The first Chinese Torch Bearer in Athens for 2008 Beijing Torch Relay: LUO Xue-Juan (Olympic Swimming Champion of women 100m breaststroke in Athens 2004)
baron-pierreIV Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 I've told BOCOG I am not available to run the Relay this year -- but they are still bringing the flame to my area, the San Francisco Bay Area, teasing me and enticing me to run.
Xu Wen-Ting Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Posted March 17, 2008 In Greece~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Where's PYRROS2004?
baron-pierreIV Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Why doesn't the flame pass by ancient Sparta? I mean -- to honor Leonidas, the brave 300, and Helen and Menelaus.
zainhasan15 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 The Beijing Olympic Media Centre is pleased to invite you to a press conference on March 19, from 3:00-4:00 p.m.. An executive vice president of BOCOG and the spokesman from the Olympic Torch Relay Centre will brief you on the torch relay's program and the selection of Torchbearers. They will also introduce you about the service guide of the Olympic torch relay for Media and take your questions. LETS SEE...........Pleaseeeeee........everybody is waiting for thier announcment
Xu Wen-Ting Posted March 18, 2008 Author Report Posted March 18, 2008 March 19, tomorrow. I'll go to Dalian (A very beautiful city near Qingdao)...hope cant miss too much about the Torch Relay.
Xu Wen-Ting Posted March 18, 2008 Author Report Posted March 18, 2008 Why doesn't the flame pass by ancient Sparta? I mean -- to honor Leonidas, the brave 300, and Helen and Menelaus. Maybe we could find the answer from PYRROS2004... Where has he gone these days?
savas Posted March 18, 2008 Report Posted March 18, 2008 Perhaps he is one of the "new" male dancers of the ceremony and very busy tight now!!! I have no idea why the Flame do not pass Sparta. The press relaese of the HOC does not explain why. But it is inpossibl for the Flame to visit every historic place of Greece in just 7 days. It also excludes all islands and a big part of northern Greece. I think it is also logistical issue.
Rei Posted March 18, 2008 Report Posted March 18, 2008 ..maybe its rivalry against Athens is still alive?
Athan Posted March 25, 2008 Report Posted March 25, 2008 The torch won't be in Spain... I can't take any photos! Hey, zainhasan15, where did you find the image in your avatar?
Rei Posted March 25, 2008 Report Posted March 25, 2008 ok, I want to share some photos from the web too. Sequences of the lighting ceremony in Olympia. slideshow
PYRROS2004 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 Some photos from Greece: The famous Arta bridge: Panagiotis Fasoulas (basketball player - 1987 European Champion - Today mayor of Pireus) Periklis Iakovakis (400m H Champion) In Menidi In Amfilohia
Olympian2004 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 For a change, since we talked so much about the human rights problem recently: What do you all think of the torch now being in use? I still think it looks odd -- like a roll of wrapping paper. And the flame coming out of this thing makes it look even more unusual. Just like the whole Beijing Games, it doesn't give me that "pre-Olympic feeling" of excitement and anticipation; it rather leaves me cold. But, on the positive side: The flame is at least bigger than at Athens' torch.
baron-pierreIV Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 1. What do you all think of the torch now being in use? I still think it looks odd -- like a roll of wrapping paper.2. But, on the positive side: The flame is at least bigger than at Athens' torch. 1. It is supposed to be in the semblance of a scroll (which was the same as my idea I sent in -- but this one has the better execution). It's very sleek but the proportion of the lower red handle to the golden 'clouds' upper part is incorrect. It would have looked more graceful if the solid red part were larger than the top 'clouds' portion. IMHO. 2. Are u saying SIZE matters? How cheeky of you!!
Olympian2004 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 1. It is supposed to be in the semblance of a scroll (which was the same as my idea I sent in -- but this one has the better execution). It's very sleek but the proportion of the lower red handle to the golden 'clouds' upper part is incorrect. It would have looked more graceful if the solid red part were larger than the top 'clouds' portion. IMHO. There's nothing wrong about shaping the torch like a scroll -- but not if that scroll has colours like wrapping paper used for Christmas gifts. 2. Are u saying SIZE matters? How cheeky of you!! Of course size matters!
PYRROS2004 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 Any comment about logo of the Hellenic Olympic Comittee on the right arm of the t-shitrt of the torch bearers?
NY20?? Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 I really like the torch. Not to bash Athens', but this one actually looks like an object designed to carry a flame around. The flame at the top hasn't looked this appropriate and fitting since Salt Lake's or Nagano's torches - I think torches need cultural references to be clearly visible for a flame to fit in. Really modern looking objects like Sydney's or Torino's torches seem odd to me when there's something like a flame coming out of it. Beijing's torch is a nice mix of both culture and sleek, modernity.
PYRROS2004 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Posted March 26, 2008 At the snowy mountains of Epirus At Metsovo This is a photo for your archive. I doubt if we'll ever seen again a summer relay with snow in Greece. At Veroia
baron-pierreIV Posted March 27, 2008 Report Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Any comment about logo of the Hellenic Olympic Comittee on the right arm of the t-shitrt of the torch bearers? Unnecessary. Should be torn off. Edited March 27, 2008 by baron-pierreIV
baron-pierreIV Posted March 27, 2008 Report Posted March 27, 2008 This is a photo for your archive. I doubt if we'll ever seen again a summer relay with snow in Greece. Could've been Photoshopped.
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