Christof Vazecha, footballer, carrying the Olympic flame in Halandri. The Olympic torch will be welcomed later on Thursday at the ancient the Acropolis. Photo by www.athens2004.com
The Olympic Fire was welcomed Thursday night at the ancient the Acropolis, for its last overnight stay outside the Olympic Stadium.
The President of the Hellenic Republic, Constantinos Stephanopoulos, honoured the Ceremony on the Sacred Rock with his presence, and the Greek Prime Minister, Konstantinos Karamanlis, also made a greeting speech.
Right after the ceremony the guest enjoyed a great musical performance of the Patras String Ensemble, conducted by Alexandros.
The Olympic torch arrived in Athens on Wednesday, bringing the flame back to the city where it began a worldwide 78,000-kilometer tour nearly five months ago.
The torch began the day at the city of Marathon, about 40 kilometres north of Athens and near the place where an Athenian army defeated the Persians in 490 B.C.