Map of Greek leg of Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay
The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) has provided information regarding the route the Olympic torch will take as it travels through Greece. A map detailing the Greek leg of the journey has been released on its website. According to reports, the sacred flame will pass through 16 prefectures, 43 municipalities, 12 municipality districts, and 4 communities in the hands of 605 torchbearers. En route, a total of 29 ceremonies will be held to celebrate the flame.
On March 24, the traditional torch lighting ceremony will take place in Ancient Olympia, with High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou presiding. She will hand over the torch to the first torchbearer, 2004 Olympic silver medalist in taekwondo (80 kg) Alexandros Nikolaidis, who will carry it to its first destination, Pirgos.
The torch will roam the island for six days, staying one night each in Mesologi, Ioannina, Vera, Thessaloniki, and Lamia, after which it will reach Athens. The last torchbearer, 2004 Greek silver medalist in the triple jump, Pigi Devetzi, will transport the torch to Panathenian Stadium on March 30. Here, in Athens, during a transfer ceremony, the torch will be placed in the waiting hands of the Beijing Organizing Olympic Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
(BOCOG March 17, 2008)