Athens Olympics Chief Plans New Celebration

(ATR) The woman who led the bid for the 2004 Olympics and later captained the organizing committee will plan the 200th anniversary of the uprising that led to Greece of today.

Gianna Angelopoulos met Wednesday with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis whose office later announced her appointment to lead the committee on the Greek War of Independence.

In 1821, Greeks launched a revolt against Ottoman Turkey. Eight years later Greece became an independent state.

A statement from Mitsotakis says commemorations in 2021 will serve as a reintroduction of Greece to the world after years of financial pains.

The statement says the celebration will be held in Athens, other Greek cities as well as abroad.

"2021 will be a year when all Greeks will celebrate together 200 years of liberty for the Greek state, with pride in our past and confidence in our future," Mitsotakis said.

Mitsotakis has been in office for less than a month, his New Democracy Party winning the July election. Angelopoulos is a former member of parliament for the conservative party.

Angelopoulos, 63, spearheaded the successful bid for the 2004 Athens Olympics. After two years of delay beginning preparations for the Games, Angelopoulos was asked to return to the Olympic project. Her leadership is credited with getting Athens 2004 back on track.

"I thank the Prime Minister for the trust and the honor bestowed on me, to assign me the responsibility of such an important matter for the Greek people and Greece. We will do our best together," said Angelopoulos.

Reported by Ed Hula.