Syrian refugee to be among torchbearers of Olympic Flame for Rio 2016 Games
Xinhua, April 5, 2016 Adjust font size:
A Syrian refugee who has requested asylum in Greece is to be among the torch bearers of the Olympic Flame that will be burning for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) Spyros Capralos said here on Tuesday.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the Panathinaic Stadium in central Athens on the lighting and hand over ceremonies of the flame scheduled for April 21 in Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics, and the Greek capital on April 27.
Capralos did not elaborate on the identity of the man, as more details will be announced later this month.
However, he underlined that under an initiative of HOC which was welcomed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UNHCR, the Olympic Flame would pass through a refugee camp in Athens before being handed over to the Brazilian hosts of this summer's Olympics.
"It will be a symbolic, strong moment for the Olympic movement. The flame is here to unite people," HOC's chief stressed.
The torch will be lit on April 21 in the stadium of ancient Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were held 25 centuries ago. Endit