The Olympic flame of EYOF has arrived in Gyor!

After the ceremony in Rome, the flame of the European Youth Olympic Festival arrived in the host town on Wednesday afternoon.

The reception ceremony on Pér airport was made even more solemn by the squadron of the SAM WING 12 Arrabona and the Tata Garrison Army Band. Apart from Mayor Zsolt Borkai, adult and young ambassadors of different sports accompanied the flame, such as Krisztián Berki (gymnastics), Anita Görbicz (handball), Zsuzsanna Jakabos (swimming), Hedvig Karakas (judo), Krisztián Pars (athletics), Anna Laklóth (basketball), Johanna Kitti Borissza (cycling), as well as Bence Varga (swimming), Tamara Pál (handball), Luca Lendvai (athletics), Márton Füri (cycling), Richárd Sipőcz (judo) and Krisztofer Mészáros (gymnastics).

Residents from Győr could see the ceremony in Rome and the reception in Pér from recording, and they were greeted by Mayor Zsolt Borkai. He said that this day was the fulfilment of our common dream when this outstanding icon of the Olympic spirit arrived in Győr. ’We needed a vast amount of work and collaboration to be able to say that 60 days before the event the preparations are well advanced, great facilities are being built, the organisation is in progress and now the flame can be here with us. We could experience such moments in Rome that we will remember forever and we would like to hand over this feeling to every single Hungarian today and during the countrywide flame-running as well.’

’I could live through a lot of beautiful moments in my life, some of which are connected to the Olympic Games, and this day will definitely belong to them. Taking part in the Olympics can not be compared to anything, and it is a fantastic thing that thousands of young people can experience this feeling here in Győr.’ – Anita Görbicz summarized. ’To participate in the ceremony in Rome was a wonderful feeling, I as an Olympic champion shudder to think that we can be part of an Olympic event in Hungary.’ – added Krisztián Berki. According to Zsuzsanna Jakabos, it will be a fantastic experience for the Hungarian athletes to be able to show their acquired knowledge in front of home audience on a home championship, while Hedvig Karakas said that she had never had the chance to hold the torch representing the Olympic spirit before, so this day would be an eternal memory for her. Krisztián Pars emphasized that the athletes were present on the ceremony in Rome as heralds to bring back the Olympic message together with the flame to the young sportspeople.

According to Johanna Kitti Borissza, EYOF is a perfect possibility to popularize cycling and for the young talents to introduce themselves, while Anna Laklóth highlighted that she has the honour to represent basketball and to personally experience such historical moments as the arrival of the Olympic flame.

’It’s a tremendous experience to take part in all this, but also a great responsibility at the same time.’ – commented Márton Füri, one of the young athletes. Luca Lendvai added that these would be memorable and essential moments in her life forever and she would like to do her own part in the flame-running as well. Krisztofer Mészáros continued: ’Working together with my role model, Krisztián Berki, will give me extra energy in my preparation. I’m anxious to make the best of myself at EYOF!’ Tamara Pál also mentioned her role model. ’We play a lot together with Görbe, and I learn a lot from her both on and outside the field, and EYOF contributes to this learning.’ According to Bence Varga, a much organised group is working on this summer event, so that the athletes could compete in the best possible conditions. ’The home-field is extra motivation, it is fantastic that my own town organizes this large-scale international event.’

Ági Szalóki and the Ballet of Győr contributed in the flame-reception programme, and the pilot flame was placed on the installation in front of the town hall by Mayor Zsolt Borkai. At the end of the ceremony The Biebers sang the official song of EYOF, and after this executive first release of the song the band gave a glorious live concert to those interested.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only