Visiting the Parthenon on the eve of the Handover Ceremony

Yesterday HRH The Princess Royal arrived in Athens to attend the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony, which takes place in just a few hours at the Kallimarmaro Stadium.

Early evening yesterday, accompanied by British Ambassador David Landsman, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, and Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Princess Anne arrived at the Acropolis, and continued on foot to the Parthenon where she attended a special Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony. Two members of the Embassy’s media team had the opportunity to witness the Lighting. The Parthenon, the last stop of the Greek leg of the Torch Relay, is a peaceful and symbolic place where the Flame spent its last night before today’s big Handover ceremony.

When the final Torchbearer Dimitris Hondrokoukis lit the Olympic Flame at the Parthenon, the feeling of excitement and anticipation that we were even closer to the Handover moment was almost tangible. It was a moment that reminded us of the simplicity of the message of the Olympic Games to unite people through sport.

Here in Athens with a few hours to go, the UK & Greece are both looking forward to the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony, to celebrate the start of the Flame’s journey to London and to wish London all the best for great Olympic Games!

*This blog was written by Andra Bean and Artemis Papakostouli