Profile: Katerina Lechou, High Priestess of Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony

Over the past two years, famous Greek actress Katerina Lechou is the key protagonist at the spotlight of the Olympic Flame Lighting and Handover Ceremonies hosted at the birthplace of the Olympic Games in ancient Olympia in western Greece and Panathinaic stadium, the marble venue of the 1896 first modern Olympic Games in Athens.

Lechou will act as the High Priestess of the 2016 Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony to be held in ancient Olympia on Thursday, when the flame for the Rio Olympic Games will be ignited.

A graduate of the Athens Theater Art School who has participated in several popular TV series and theater plays over the past two decades, she first performed as High Priestess in the ceremonies for the 2014 Nanjing Summer Youth Olympics.

Traditionally the High Priestess does not speak to media before the ceremonies are finished. During a visit to Olympia recently for rehearsals of the ritual lighting ceremony, she laconically commented at the City Hall that she feels blessed for the honor, as well as the burden of the responsibility to give a meticulous performance more than in every other role.

The artist playing the High Priestess as well as all Greek artists taking part in the ceremonies offer their services as volunteers.

They begin rehearsals several months before the ceremonies and a few days before the lighting ceremony they arrive at ancient Olympia to continue working hard every day at the premises of the International Olympic Academy near the ancient stadium.

Their reward is the powerful emotions they feel during the ritual under the warm applause of the audience, as they help to send in each corner of the world the messages of peace and noble sportsmanship. Enditem