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by Martha Jo Braycich, Communications Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
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L-R: Joanna Despotopoulou, President of Special Olympics Greece; Special Olympics Greece athletes Theadora Miliori and Olga Dassoupras, who represented high priestesses; Natasha Karamanlis, wife of the Prime Minister; and Special Olympics Greece athlete George Dimitrakopoulos. [All photos by Charis Akriviadis] |
At the beginning of September, the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” was lit in Patras, Greece, during a two-day event, held as a prelude to the Special Olympics European Youth Games, which start at the end of the month in Rome, Italy.
The Torch Lighting ceremony, titled “The Light of Culture and Hope,” was hosted by Special Olympics Greece in the port city located just over 200 km (120 miles) from Athens, and designated the Cultural Capital of Europe 2006.
“The Torch Lighting ceremony is the start of a celebration that shows citizens across Europe the limitless potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and how the spirit of young people can be used as a driving force for positive social change,” said Joanna Despotopoulou, President of Special Olympics Greece.
“Including the Special Olympics Torch Lighting ceremony within the framework of Europe’s widest cultural institution is our chance to celebrate through the common language of culture and sports the effort of these exceptional Special Olympics athletes,” said Christos Roilos, Managing Director, Cultural Capital of Europe-Patras 2006.
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Prior to the kick-off of a Torch Run through Patras, Special Olympics athletes re-enacted ancient torch lighting traditions. |
The highlight event in Patras was the ceremony and concert held at the Roman Odeon, a music hall dating back to 161 AD, during the evening of 2 September. More than 1,600 guests attended, including Natasha Karamanlis, wife of the Prime Minister; officials and dignitaries from all levels of government; leaders from the Patras Cultural Capital of Europe Organization; the Bishop of Patras; members of the Hellenic Olympic Committee; Olympic medalists; port and law enforcement authorities; sponsors; and Special Olympics athletes and family members.
The lighting ceremony, steeped in ancient tradition, was carried out by Special Olympics Greece athletes Theadora Miliori and Olga Dassoupras, who represented high priestesses, and George Dimitrakopoulos, who ran with the Torch.
The concert, enthusiastically received by the audience, was performed by the Blind Girls Symphony Orchestra of Egypt, which has had many successful tours outside Egypt.
On 3 September, a Torch Run kicked off at the Achaia Clauss winery located on a hillside overlooking the Bay of Patras. While 400 guests looked on, 180 runners participated in the 8-kilometer run that consisted of the Torch changing hands every 500 meters. The runners included Special Olympics athletes, Olympic medalists and Cultural Capital volunteers. Twenty antique cars provided by the Automobile Club of Greece and carrying the Egyptian orchestra as passengers were part of the run, which ended at the steps of the Cathedral of St. Andrews in the center of the city. The run was followed by a lunch hosted by Andreas Karavolas, Mayor of Patras.
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Special Olympics Italy athlete Vito Calabrese is entrusted with the torch at the final ceremony before boarding a ferry for Bari, Italy. |
In the afternoon, a final ceremony was held at the docks and the torch was passed to Special Olympics Italy athlete Vito Calabrese. He, along with his father, Francesco; Italian law enforcement officer Mauro Locchi; and Tim Craig, a law enforcement officer from Northern Ireland and Regional Coordinator of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, boarded a Superfast Ferry that took them overnight to Bari, Italy. The captain of the ferry, Charalampos Chimaras, invited all guests to a reception on board prior to setting sail.
As part of the afternoon proceedings a signing ceremony took place between Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia and LEN (Ligue Européenne de Natation).
Sponsors for the event were the Cultural Capital of Europe-Patras 2006, the Hellenic Parliament, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, and corporate sponsors Vodafone, Coca-Cola and its bottling company, and Aegean Airlines. Supporters included the Lyceum of Greek Women, the Municipality of Patras, the Automobile Clib of Greece, Superfast Ferries and Greek national television. A dinner recognizing sponsors was held on 2 September.
Media coverage was outstanding, starting two months prior to the event and including a well-attended press conference on 31 August. Eleven television channels (five national and six local) and all major national and regional newspapers covered the Patras events.
A guardian – and father’s – devotion to the Torch Run
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Torch Run Regional Coordinator Tim Craig, a law enforcement officer from Northern Ireland, touched the crowd with his account of what the movement means to his sons, who are Special Olympics athletes. |
At the send-off for the torch, the audience that had gathered at the Patras docks was particularly moved when Tim Craig spoke. As Craig, a law enforcement officer from Northern Ireland and Regional Coordinator of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, was presenting certificates of recognition to supporters, he pointed out that the two boys in the photo on the certificate were his son Ryan, 10, and Jack McKeown, 7, who are Special Olympics athletes who participate in Torch Runs. “I know the torch makes a difference in the lives of the athletes and I am honored to be a ‘Guardian of the Flame,’” said the sergeant from Belfast. “I see it in my son’s face when he looks at the torch. He knows that the torch is for him and for all other Special Olympics athletes.” A Torch Run, involving a core team of about 30 law enforcement representatives from throughout Europe, will run through Italy’s Lazio Region from 26-30 September. The torch will be brought into the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics European Youth Games on 30 September in Rome.
Expertise and devotion keep the “Flame of Hope” burning
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L-R: Joanna Despotopoulou, President, Special Olympics Greece, Special Olympics Greece athlete and Nassos Kritsinelis |
Nassos Kritsinelis must have one of the most unique jobs within the Olympic movement. For 30 years, he has been responsible for all technical aspects of lighting the Olympic Flame and the torch relay. In total, he has been involved in 17 Olympic torch lighting ceremonies, and he has been sharing his expertise with Special Olympics in the lighting of the “Flame of Hope” for several years. Kritsinelis is careful in drawing attention to the differences between the Olympic and the Special Olympics flames, but his devotion to both is obvious. “The Olympic Flame is about brotherhood and peace. The Special Olympics Flame is about love and hope and its light goes straight to our hearts,” he said.
Kritsinelis worked for the National Olympic Committee for 34 years as Supervisor of Technical Services. In 1976 he developed a technique based on the one used by the ancient Greeks so that the flame is ignited directly by using the rays of the sun. He then was involved in transferring the flame by modern means – via satellite – to the Montreal Games.
Kritsinelis is the owner of the largest collection of Olympic Torches, dating back to the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, each one with its own history, he said. The only Torch he does not have is the one from the 1952 Winter Olympics in Helsinki. Kritsinelis, who is retired, is writing a book about the history of the Olympic Flame.
LEN agreement aims to increase opportunities for swimmers
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L-R: Michael Smith, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia; Sven Egil Folvik, Secretary, LEN; and Joanna Despotopoulou, President, Special Olympics Greece, signing the protocol of agreement. |
The protocol of agreement that was signed between Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia and LEN (Ligue Européenne de Natation) aims to increase coach recruitment and training, and competitions, while raising public awareness as to the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities within the region. Sven Egil Folvik, Secretary of LEN, the European sports governing body; Michael Smith, Managing Director, Special Olympisc Europe/Eurasia; and hosts Despotopoulou and Roilos signed the agreement on 3 September in Patras. “We hope that this cooperation will further the ‘swimming for all’ principle so that people with intellectual disabilities who love to swim will have more opportunities to do so,” said Folvik.
Swimming is one of Special Olympics’ most popular sports. Worldwide, more than 121,500 Special Olympics swimmers train and compete. Of those swimmers, more than 26,000 are in Europe and Eurasia. Swimming will be one of the sports featured at the Special Olympics European Youth Games, where 250 swimmers from 51 countries will compete in 14 events; three events will be for swimmers with low ability. |
