INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Greek officials conveyed best wishes for a successful Games from the birthplace of the Olympic movement ahead of the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame that will burn for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

On Monday, during a ritual sun-ray ceremony inside the stadium of Ancient Olympia in western Greece where the Games were born centuries ago, the sacred flame was ignited and started its journey to Beijing.

“We are all looking forward to a great and successful Olympic Winter Games, when Beijing will write history as the first ever city to organize both editions of the Olympic Games, Summer and Winter, and when we will celebrate with the Chinese people a great festival of winter sports. So, looking forward to seeing you soon in Beijing,” Bach said during an event at the premises of the International Olympic Academy overlooking the stadium.

Greek Deputy Culture and Sports Minister Lefteris Avgenakis expressed confidence in the success of the Winter Olympics that will run from Feb. 4 to 20, 2022, followed by the Paralympics.

“We are very happy that Beijing is hosting the Olympics again; this time, after 2008, the 2022 Winter Olympics. It will succeed just as well in organizing the forthcoming Winter Olympics,” he told Xinhua during a recent event in Athens.

“We are confident that our Chinese friends will organize fantastic Games in Beijing,” Spyros Capralos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee, added during the same event.

“Greek and Chinese civilizations meet again in less than 15 years for both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Games. I think it is a happy occasion, because the Chinese people proved in 2008 that they know how to organize an excellent Olympic Games,” mayor of Ancient Olympia, Georgios Georgiopoulos, told Xinhua.

“It was probably one of the best Games organized in recent years and we believe that this event will have the same success,” he said.

Artemis Ignatiou, the choreographer and artistic director of the Olympic Flame Lighting and Handover ceremonies in Ancient Olympia and Athens since Beijing 2008, also sent her warmest wishes to Beijing.

“I hope that there will be great Olympic Games in Beijing, with incredible records, [I wish] great success and I send my love and positive energy,” she said.

(Xinhua)