Greek skier Ioannis Antoniou will be the first torch bearer for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi after the flame is lit in the ancient Olympia next week, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.
Antoniou (18) has been skiing since the age of four and hopes to be on the Greek team for the games to be held in Russia from February 7 to 23. He placed 75th in the world championship giant slalom in Schladming, Austria, in February.
Like the previous games, the flame for Sochi would be lit in ancient Olympia on September 29 at the Temple of Hera by the light of the sun using a parabolic mirror.
The torch relay will arrive in Russia on October 7 and be carried by more than 14,000 bearers over 65,000 kilometres, and also make a trip to the International Space Station. The relay concludes with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony in Sochi.
