The Olympic flame journey moved to its second leg in Greece on Tuesday, arousing Olympic passions along the way.
The weather didn't seem friendly on Tuesday, but it was negligible compared to the enthusiasm of onlookers along. Takis Papachristos, the owner of Liberty Hotel in Mesologi, was the first torchbearer of the second leg.
The second day journey started from the Hero's Tomb, which was built in memory of the dead in the 1821-1826 Greece and Turkey war and also the great English peot George Gordon Byron who had come to the city and died in fighting for Greece's independence in 1824.
Takis' hotel is name after Byron's masterpiece "Statues of Liberty". As the first torchbearer, Takis, 37, brought all the family to the cauldron to see him light the torch. His mother Anua Karatosou was up to the elbows in taking photos for him.
In the tiny town of Amfilochia, everybody was drenched with gladness. For them, the coming of the Olympic flame is a god-given opportunity to celebrate their national day holiday.
"It's the second time for Olympic flame to visit the town, but my passion for it is no less than the first time in the Athens Games relay," said Vasilis Politis, who was helping in the arrangement of the ceremony stage.
"We are Greek, so the flame feels strong among us especially for me, a marathon adorer."
Eleanna Kalicikatsou, a second-year college student, came to the celebrating site two hours before the flame's arrival. "It's sacred flame, so I want to look at it and I also want to see what the torch looks like," said Kalicikatsou. "I hope one day I can be a torchbearer."
Ioannina, the last destination of the second day, celebrated the arrival of the flame in festivity. A large crowd gathered around the ceremony site and a traditional dancing performance was given.
Stavros Anifautis was among the torchbearers in the town. He was well known in Greece as a top sprinter after winning 400m gold medals in World Youth Championships of Athletics 2006. His teammate Ilias Grivas and sister Diwifra Auifanti acted as his torch guards.
"I was trying to be part of the Olympic flame and finally I won a place to be my brother's guard. It's good enough to run along the torch," said Auifanti.
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2008)