EYOF flame lit up in Rome, arrives in Gyor on Wednesday

The Roman monument from ancient times, Ara Pacis Augustae witnessed a really special event: the flame of the European Youth Olympic Festival in Győr and the golden oil branch were lifted in an exceptional ceremony.

The Ara Pacis Augustae, or the Altar of the Augustinian Peace was a symbolic place for the ceremony. This is where the mayor of Győr Zsolt Borkai took over the flame of the EYOF. The flame was raised in the air by Olympic champion gymnast Krisztián Berki, Anita Görbicz, three times Champions League winner handball player, Zsuzsanna Jakabos, earlier EYOF winner swimmer Olympic games participant, Krisztián Pars, Olympic champion hammer-thrower and Hedvig Karakas, world champion bronze medallist judo Olympic games participant, which was handed over to Zsolt Borkai by Janez Kocijancic, deputy chair of the European Olympic Committee (EOC). The mayor said that the organizers have been working for the success of the first Olympic multi-sports event in Hungary for six years, and have been waiting for this moment, for the flame, ever since. He emphasized that the EYOF in Győr is surrounded by an extensive cooperation, besides the support of the State of Hungary and the municipality, numerous enterprises also sponsor the implementation, the event is promoted by renowned athletes, many applied to be volunteers so that they can take active part in EYOF, and many settlements in Hungary join the flame running. He reminded that there are only 62 days left, and a wonderful event will start in Győr, where at the opening ceremony young athletes from fifty countries can look at the flame with pride.

In history, heroes were born in battles, however today anybody can become hero, no matter they are outstanding in culture, science or sports, Janez Kocijancic, deputy chair of the EOC said at the ceremony. He added that the history of EYOF goes back to a quarter of a century, and this wonderful dream now continues in Győr.

Giovanni Malago, chair of the Italian Olympic Committee said he is proud that Rome can host this important milestone. He reminded that Hungary has long Olympic traditions, therefore he is certain that the event in Győr will be a successful one.

At the ceremony, the work of the famous goldsmith, Nicola Amato, the golden oil branch "Dea Pax", which was made by the same fire which lit up the flame of the EYOF, was presented. The oil branch will accompany the flame to Győr, and following the summer event it returns to Rome, to the centre of the European Olympic Committee (EOC). The oil branch was taken over by the chair of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, Krisztián Kulcsár, who promised they will look after these symbols with special care. He emphasized that for Hungary the Olympic idea is important, and our dream is to organize a summer Olympic games in Budapest. On this road, the organization of the European Youth Olympic Festival is a great milestone.

The flame arrives at the airport of Pér on Wednesday, from where it will be accompanied by mayor Zsolt Borkai and the EYOF sports ambassadors in front of the Győr Town Hall, where the guardian flame will be placed during a ceremony. The torch, which will start on a national tour on May 27th, will be lit from this flame. At the Wednesday ceremony, the Győr Ballet Company and Ági Szalóki will perform, and the audience will also have the opportunity to listen to the official EYOF song. The Biebers will not only play the song of the event, but also give a live, free, 60-minute concert, which is open for everyone.

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