The Olympic flame was welcomed in Strasbourg, France, by lawmakers representing 46 European countries, the Secretary-General, representatives of the Committee of Ministers of the European Parliament and staff of the European Parliament. This is the first time the Olympic Committee has authorized the Olympic flame to enter buildings and congresses for the opening of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The reason for this is that this year the Council of Europe celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The torchbearer walked through the streets of Strasbourg, past cheering crowds, past the flags of the 46 European Parliament member states, up the steps of the Palais de l’Europe, the headquarters of the European Parliament, and through the main gate, where he was given a red-carpet welcome. The torch then entered the European Parliament’s Parliamentary Chamber.
Theodoros Roussopoulos, President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, welcomed the torch, noting the event’s origins in Greece 2,800 years ago and its historical link with France through Pierre de Coubertin’s revival of the modern event in 1896. I recalled that it was done.
“Welcome the Olympic flame of peace to the cradle of human rights!” the President declared as the torch burned in the center of the conference room. “We wish the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and France the best in hosting the XXXIII Olympiad. The route follows Paris!”
The flame is being carried by around 11,500 runners on its 12,500km journey from ancient Olympia in Greece to the host city of Paris.