(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean’s official visit to Athens has coincided with the lighting of the Olympic Flame, that was passed on yesterday to the organizers
of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Vancouver.
The Canadian city is becoming the flame’s keeper, after the final run on Greek soil by Greek-Canadian figure skater Niki Georgiadou. President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias received the Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean at the Presidential Mansion in Athens, on October 29. In his welcoming speech, President Papoulias pointed out that Haiti, the country of origin of the Governor General of Canada, supported the Greek War of Independence against the Ottomans in 1821. He also underlined that “Canada embraced Greek immigrants,” and referred to the humanitarian aid Greece received from Canada, during WWII. Olympic Movement: The lighting ceremony in Olympia & Greek News Agenda: Ancient Olympia in the Spotlight
Filed under: Greece, International Relations, Olympic Games, Sport | Tagged: Canada, Flame, Games, Greece, Jean, Karolos, Michaelle, Olympic, Papoulias, Paralympic, Vancouver, winter | Comments Off on Olympic Flame: Goodbye Greece, Hello Vancouver
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games take place from September 6 to 17. The 69 Greek Paralympic athletes left Athens on August 29 for the eleven-day sports event. The Greek team counts 53 men and 16 women, who will compete in power lifting, swimming, boccia, cycling, shooting, athletics, archery, judo, sailing, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair fencing. In total, 4,000 athletes from more than 150 countries are expected to participate in Beijing’s 13th Summer Paralympics. Beijing 2008 Paralympics: 
Embassy of Greece in Poland Press & Communication Office 