The Greek Olympic Committee said it had discussed with government alternative plans for holding the ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic Flame in the event of an outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Greece.
The ceremony is due to be held on 12 March in ancient Olympia and a torch relay on Greek soil is to bring the flame to Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on 19 March where, in another ceremony, it will be handed to the organisers of the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
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In a press conference on Monday, the Greek Olympic president, Spyros Carpalos said: ” We are in contact with the Crisis Committee and the Ministry of Health so that there is a plan ready for what needs to be done in case there are outbreaks in our country”.
The first torch bearer is to be Anna Korakaki, the Olympic shooting champion. She will be the first woman to have ever been chosen for this role.
In total, 600 runners will carry the Olympic flame through 37 Greek cities and 15 archaeological sites. The relay will cover 3,500 km and 842 nautical miles within Greece.
