The sacred flame went through Dion at the foot of Mount Olympus during the fifth day of the Torch Relay on Friday, with local residents excited to witness the coming of the flame.The fifth day saw the flame travel the longest distance so far in Greece. It covered nearly 400 km from the northeast to the southeast of Greece.
Fireworks were lit in Thessaloniki as part of celebrations to greet the Olympic Flame Thursday evening. At nearly 8:00 (GMT +2) the next day, the mayor of the city Vasilios Papageorgopoulos, also a famous sprinter, lit the torch using the flame basin and ran as the first torchbearer from the city amid long-time ovations. The flame basin was then loaded on a car and headed for Dion.
It seemed as if all of the city's less than 2,000 residents joined the joyous atmosphere to welcome the Olympic Flame. Waving Greek and Chinese flags dotted the air while residents and singers sang beautiful songs.
Although communication between Chinese reporters and Greek citizens is limited due to the language barrier, residents of Dion enjoyed the Olympic Torch relay. Most of them smiled to Chinese reporters and some said Nihao (hello) in Chinese.
Dimosthenis Tampakos, an Athens Olympic rings champion, lit the Olympic flame basin before loud whistles and ovations. This is the fourth time Tampakos has been a torchbearer. He said he had a special feeling when holding the Olympic torch. Dion is named after the Greek translation for Zeus.
The Mayor of Volos went out to welcome the flame and was the first torchbearer from the city.
Celebrations were held in a stadium, which the mayor said was one of the venues for the 2004 Athens Olympic football events.
The mayor has never been to China but he wished that Beijing will play host to a successful Olympic Games.
The flame arrived at Lamia at 6:54 p.m., where the torch will stay overnight. On Saturday, the flame will head to the Acropolis.
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