Athens, December 3, 2015 – the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games flame left the Panathinaikos Stadium on Tuesday, on its journey to Norway.
High Priestess Katerina Lehou lit the Flame in the traditional way, with the sun, and handed it over to the first torchbearer, skiing athlete George Karakas.
After the traditional ceremony, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos handed the symbol of Olympism to the President of the Lillehammer 2016 Organizing Committee Ms Siri Hatlen.
Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis, General Secretary of Sports Synadinos July, IOC member Lambis Nikolaou, International Olympic Academy President Isidoros Kouvelos, NOC Secretary General Manolis Katsiadakis, and many members of the HOC Plenary Session attended the ceremony.

In his address, President Spyros Capralos said:” Our joy is really great today, because the Flame and the trip will bring to every corner of our planet the universal and timeless messages of peace and brotherhood of peoples.
Today’s messages, along with the profound belief that sport and Olympism can help to create a better world through initiatives that promote and enhance dialogue, reconciliation, mutual understanding, respect and solidarity are the elements that every time make the lighting of the Olympic Flame separate and unique.”

The President of the Lillehammer 2016 Organizing Committee, Ms Siri Hatlen said:” Norway had the honour to have the Flame for two Olympics. The first time in Oslo in 1952 and the second time in Lillehammer in 1994. Both times, the Torch Relay was memorable and there are still people that remember the one in 1994 as an extraordinary cultural event. We are privileged and honoured to welcome the Olympic Flame for the third time.”

Before Lighting the Flame in Lillehammer on the day of the Opening Ceremony, the Torch will visit 19 counties in Norway.
The 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer will bring together over 1,100 athletes from 70 nations from 12 to 21 February.