First and last torchbearers in Greece announced

　　(BEIJING, March 13) -- On Wednesday at a press conference hosted by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), reporters were provided with the identities of the first and last torch bearers for the Greek leg of the torch relay. Alexandros Nikolaidis, 2004 Olympics silver medalist in taekwondo (80 kg) will accept the torch from High Priestess Maria Nafpliotou as the first runner, and Pigi Devetzi, silver medalist in the triple jump in the Athens Olympic Games, will bring the torch to Panathenian Stadium on March 30 as the last torch bearer.

　　Alexandros Nikolaidis, the first torch bearer, told reporters that "All athletes at the beginning of their careers have dreams. This was mine. It's very difficult to express what I feel because there are no words to describe the importance of the Olympic Flame. I would like to express my gratitude to the HOC for the honor and hope to stand up to this honor morally and in the competition."

　　Minas Kyriakou, HOC President, provided details about the path the flame will take while it is in Greece. "The Olympic Flame will run on Greek territory, 1528 km, in the hands of 605 torchbearers, through 16 prefectures, 43 municipalities, 12 municipality districts, and 4 communities while 29 ceremonies will be held. I would also like to mention something unique. At the Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, will be present the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, and the IOC President, Dr Jacques Rogge."

　　On the eve of the handover to Beijing, the flame will spend the night on the ancient Acropolis, where Voula Kozoboli, 2004 Olympic silver medalist (women's water polo), will light the cauldron placed on the altar. On Sunday morning, the flame will move again, held up by a representative of the Greek national basketball team, Dimitris Diamantidis, who also plays internationally.

　　On the afternoon of March 30, the flame will reach the site of the 1896 Athens Olympic Games, where the first session of the modern Olympics took place. Here, the flame will be ceremoniously passed to the Beijing Olympic Committee.

　　The last torch bearer, athlete Pigi Devetzi, stated, "It is very difficult to express my feelings, I am deeply moved and would like to thank the HOC for proposing to me to participate in this ancient ceremony. I hope the Light and the Power of the Flame will give to all the Greek athletes and myself the strength to make Greece proud. I also hope that the Flame will enlighten all those who rule the world so that we can live moments of peace, joy and love."

　　During the press conference, HOC President Minos Kyriakou spoke about his country's Olympic responsibility.

　　"Four years after the lighting of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games on the 25th of March, 2004, the moment has come again for our country. The Olympic Flame will be ignited in Olympia and will be delivered to the 2008 BOCOG."

　　"The HOC has ensured all the requirements for a perfect but modest Ceremony exactly as imposed by history, tradition and of course, the area of Ancient Olympia. We have also secured seven days for the Olympic Torch Relay on Greek territory, as it happened in Athens 2004," he continued.

　　Maria Nafpliotou, the ceremony's High Priestess, said, "I feel very happy and proud. I know, as a Grecian, the importance of this Ceremony. I am personally moved due to my childhood memories and hope that together with the new choreographer, Mrs. Artemis Ignatiou, we shall stand up to all expectations."