Olympic flame on its way to Beijing

Athens (IOC/FIL) The Olympic flame for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 is on its way to Beijing. During a ceremony in the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, it was handed over on 19 October 2021 from the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) to the organisers of the next Games.

The ceremony took place 24 hours after the lighting of the flame in Ancient Olympia near the Temple of Hera. Due to the COVID-19 countermeasures, today’s ceremony was held under strict conditions, with only a limited delegation and no spectators present. In addition, the traditional torch relay through Greece could not take place.

The Greek priestesses entered the arena and watched on as Greece's Εvi Moraitidou, a silver medallist at the Athens Olympics in 2004 in water polo, brought the flame into the stadium.

Li Nina, Olympic silver medallist in freestyle skiing in both 2006 and 2010, from China, then continued the lap of the historic track, before handing the torch to Paraskevi Ladopoulou, a cross-country and biathlon athlete from Greece, who will compete in Beijing 2022 in cross-country, to light a cauldron.

Beijing will write history as the first city to hold both editions of the Olympic Games, winter and summer. The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 aim to connect the Chinese people with the world, bringing to life China’s vision to engage 300 million people with sport on snow and ice.

As a symbol of peace, unity and solidarity, the Olympic flame conveys the values of Olympism to all those who see it on its travels. The flame will help build anticipation amongst Olympic fans eager to witness the world’s best winter sports stars in action, whilst also inspiring thousands of athletes who are making their final preparations for these Games.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Spyros Capralos said: “This unique flame will convey a message of peace and friendship. But it will also carry with it the respect and goodwill of the Greek towards the Chinese people. Two nations that count thousands of years of history and close relations.”

A welcome ceremony for the flame will be held in Beijing on 20 October, with the flame initially going on display to the public at the Beijing Olympic Tower before setting off on a flame exhibition tour. Closer to the Games, a traditional Olympic Torch Relay will be held. More information will be announced by the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee after the arrival ceremony.

Around 2,900 athletes, representing approximately 85 National Olympic Committees, will compete in what will be the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history, between 4 and 20 February 2022.

photos: IOC