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The President of the Liberec Region received the Olympic Torch
Monday January 24 2011 04:20 PM
The President of the Liberec Region Stanislav Eichler received the Olympic Torch with the flame which will accompany the 10th European Youth Olympic Winter Festival (EYOWF) 2011 starting on 13th February. The flame was recently brought to the Czech Republic by a delegation of organisers from Greece. The gala ceremony was attended by representatives of the three host towns and by legends of Czech sport: Věra Čáslavská, Dana Zátopková and Oldřich Svojanovský.
This unique event, which took place in the building of the Regional Office in Liberec twenty days before the official opening of the Festival, was witnessed by councillors of the Liberec Region, a delegation of the Czech Olympic Committee, members of the EYOWF 2011 Public Benefit Corporation, members of the Organising Committee and other guests.
"The Flame was lit by representatives of the Greek Olympic Committee at Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, the location of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896. For the first time in the history of the Czech Republic, it will become the symbol of this prestigious international event - the European Youth Olympics," said Roman Kumpošt, President of the EYOWF 2011 Organising Committee, after the torch was handed over to Stanislav Eichler, the President of the host region.
Stanislav Eichler added: "Two years ago, during the Closing Ceremony of EYOWF 2009 in Szczyrk, I was handed the Olympic Flag. Today, we have added another significant symbol. I am convinced the organisers have made the best of the three-year of preparations for the event and that the European Youth Olympics will meet its mission and become an example for the young, not only in the organisation, but also in the sporting performances. It is also our wish to win back the trust of the public in a hassle-free and transparent organisation of sporting events."
Afterwards, he handed over the lanterns with the Olympic Flame to representatives of the host towns - Jan Korytář, the Mayor of Liberec, Petr Beitl, the Mayor of Jablonec nad Nisou and Luboš Marek, the Mayor of Kořenov. The symbolic flames will shine in their town halls until the end of the Festival.
Věra Čáslavská, seven-time Olympic champion, commented in her speech: "I wish the European Youth Olympics the best of success and hope it leaves a wonderful memory in the hearts and souls of all the participants. I also believe that during this competition many talents will be born, who will later become stars of world sport."
The Opening Ceremony of EYOWF 2011 will take place on 13th February from 19:30 in Tipsport Arena in Liberec and will be personally attended by Mr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee.
EYOWF 2011 will host 1,550 members of sport delegations from 44 European countries. There will be 28 disciplines and 216 medals to be awarded in eight traditional winter sports: Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Ski Jumping, Ice Hockey, Nordic Combined and Snowboarding.
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