Rome hosts Flame of Peace lighting ceremony for Bakuriani 2025 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival

The Flame of Peace lighting ceremony was held at the historic Mercati di Traiano in Italy’s capital Rome, 53 days before the opening of the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in Georgia’s ski resort Bakuriani, the country’s Sports Ministry said on Friday. 

Spyros Capralos, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, presented the Olive Tree - a sacred symbol of peace and victory given to the EYOF hosts - to Shalva Gogoladze, the Georgian Sports Minister and Leri Khabelov, the President of the country’s Olympic Committee, at the event, which was also attended by Mamuka Khabareli, the Chair of the Bakuriani 2025 Organising Committee, and representatives of the Italian Government and the Olympic Committee.

Capralos hailed Georgia’s preparatory works for the Winter Youth Festival as “excellent”, saying the country was ready “to welcome the future starts of winter sports”.

[…] this is more than a competition; it is an opportunity to spread a message that sport promotes happiness, unity and connection between the people”, he stressed.

Gogoladze also addressed the guests highlighting the Georgian Government’s support in organising the Bakuriani 2025 Youth Festival and added “our country is ready to host the Festival at a high level”.

The Flame of Peace lighting ceremony was also attended by Nika Egadze, the Georgian bronze medalist of the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival 2017 in figure skating and the Georgian skier Anastasia Mirianashvili. 

The European Winter Youth Olympic Festival will be held in Bakuriani from February 9 to February 16.