Due to extreme weather conditions, the committee organizing the 32nd Athens Classic Marathon decided to host the torch-lighting ceremony indoors rather than at the site of the Marathon tomb in northwestern Attica as was scheduled on Saturday.
Soprano Anastasia Zanni opened the event at around 12.30 p.m. in the presence of Deputy Sports Minister Yiannis Adriannos, Marathon Mayor Ilias Psinakis Hellenic Sports Federation (SEGAS) President Kostas Panagopoulos, Tourism Ministry General Secretary Panos Livadas and Paco Borao, president of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Running.
The torchbearers arrived shortly after 1 p.m. where George Hirsch and Florence Kiplagat were waiting to light the torch at Marathon.
