The Torch Relay of the 2004 Olympic Games has gone through the sites of demonstration actions within the CultMark operation in Pafos, Cyprus and in Nea Ionia Magnesia, Greece, in July 2004. The Olympic Torch Relay takes place before the big celebration of the Olympic Games, while the Olympic flame is the primary symbol of the Olympic ideal, noble competition, friendship and peaceful coexistence. The objective of the Athens 2004 Torch Relay was to give to the Olympic flame the possibility to light the universal values of Olympism and to touch people’s hearts, by uniting the municipalities with sports and culture.
On the 8th of July 2004, the Olympic flame arrived at Pafos airport from Sofia and then was transferred by an old sailing ship to the old port of Pafos (site of the Info Point demonstration action in CultMark). A torch lighting ceremony took place in front of the Pafos Medieval Castle (site of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival performances, another demonstration action in CultMark) in the presence of the Mayor of Pafos. A choir sung the Olympic Anthem and Ancient Greek verses were recited. The torch relay then started from Pafos old port to the rest of Cyprus with first point of call at “Petra tou Romiou”, which legend makes the birthplace of Aphrodite in Pafos Province. This was the first time that the Olympic torch relay has gone through Cyprus and it is important for the local identity that Pafos was the first location in Cyprus where the Olympic flame landed, the torch was lit and the Olympic torch relay started. Cyprus was the last visit of the Olympic flame before it re-entered Greece.
On the 30th of July the Olympic torch relay reached the Olympic city of Volos and then went through the Olympic Municipality of Nea Ionia where a ceremony was held with the presence of the Mayor. The route of the torch relay passed in front of the brand new Olympic Visitor Information Centre, a demonstration action within CultMark under the theme of ‘Olympic city image and legacy’. The torch relay then passed via the Panthessaliko Stadium in Nea Ionia and then went right in front of the ‘Metaxourgeio’ building which houses the Silk Museum, another demonstration action within CultMark, promoting local identity in Nea Ionia. The torch relay then continued through the city of Volos where the Olympic flame spent the night. This was also the first time that the Olympic torch relay passed through the Municipality of Nea Ionia Magnesia and is now considered as an important feature of local identity for the future.
On 13th of August, the Flame reached its final destination, the Athens Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, having passed through the CultMark partner places in Pafos, Cyprus, and Nea Ionia, Greece.
The passing of the Olympic torch relay through CultMark partner places and more specifically through or in front of demonstration action sites within the CultMark operation is an important and unique event contributing to local identity from now on as it is not likely to be repeated for many years to come. The CultMark partners in Pafos and Nea Ionia plan to promote this new and unique feature of local identity by installing a commemorating plaque at the respective sites on the first anniversary of the Olympic torch relay in July 2005, within the theme of promoting local identity for sustainable development in the CultMark operation.
