SPIRITS on the streets were as high as the temperature yesterday as people lines the island’s streets to welcome the Olympic torch on its final relay before it returns home to Athens for the Olympic Games next month.
They gathered in anticipation at the Paphos castle with the sun beating down to welcome the flame that arrived in Cyprus for the first time ever. Roads were blocked off by police to clear the way for the torch bearers and traffic built up in and around the coastal towns.
Chaos reigned with journalists, photographers and curious citizens all vying for the briefest glimpse of the flame that has travelled the world from Australia to America, through Africa and Europe.
Photographers stumbled over each other as they tried to capture the moment, honchos pushed and shoved eager onlookers who tried to get close. But all the torchbearers were beaming, not one looked tired and a few who spoke to the Cyprus Mail yesterday said carrying the flame was something they would never forget.
“It was just so moving,” pianist Marinos Tirimos said.
“It was a great feeling, an honour, and it’s something I will never forget.
“But I will remember this day for as long as I live, I will keep this torch and hand it on to my children so they can hand it down to theirs.”
“I wanted to carry the torch in Atlanta, but the Americans wanted $3,000 dollars so that was a big disappointment,” another runner, who didn’t want to be named said.
Hundreds gathered at Limassol’s Curium Amphitheatre waving Greek flags to greet the flame and cheered as the torchbearer came down the steps and passed it on to the next runner.
Though the entire day’s events were organised with military efficiency, true Hellenic style managed to crack the ‘international’ veneer. The most notable hiccup – apart from mapping a route under the direct path of the sun’s rays – was the fact that the organisers failed to take into account Cypriots’ infamous lack of patience.
One brave Cypriot driver threatened to call the police on the organisers after pulling out of a queue of cars and hitting one of the escorts’ motorcycles.
Photographers were furious with the event managers for not giving them the freedom to do their job.
At Curium, photographers were only given a few moments to take pictures and at Nicosia there was a heated exchange between one paparazzo and an organiser. The team member pulled the keys out of the photographer’s motorcycle because he tried to over take the procession so that he could get ahead for a better shot.
In Nicosia’s Eleftheria Square yesterday afternoon, people gathered in anticipation to watch the flame make its final stop for the night. A sea of faces waited eagerly in and around the square: Greek and Turkish Cypriots, tourists and foreigners alike.
Suddenly the sound of the police band was heard coming from Makarios Avenue. The crowd swarmed forward with their cameras stretched before them, wanting to capture the moment. As the band passed by and made its way up towards the town hall, young girls in tunics made their way behind the procession…
Jaws collectively slackened as the crowd discovered the 86th torch bearer, First Lady Fotini Papadopoulos, was not behind them. Instead a Coca Cola truck and a Samsung van jangled their way through the awaiting crowd to the other end of the square, smashing any sense of awe and anticipation that had filled the old city.
As Vangelis’ Chariots of Fire rang out, the event’s global sponsors managed to squish the moving ritual and dampened the mood for many.
People moved from one end of the square to the other, anxious not to miss out on the torchbearer making her way into the city centre.
Suddenly she arrived, bearing the Olympic flame before her. Cameras started clicking, children started clapping and everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the flame.
Once it made its stop at the town hall, Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zamplas welcomed the runner and made a uncharacteristically brief speech. It was difficult to concentrate on what he was saying, so intent was everyone on watching the flame and feeling transported back to ancient times when the Olympics first made their mark on the world.
Former Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades then lit his own torch with the flame and set off to make his way around the town before a concert in the D’Avila moat.
Unlike other towns, people in Nicosia were disappointed with the capital’s ceremony.
“I expected a lot more,” said Maria Constantinou. “It was really disappointing.”
Despite their mother’s disillusionment, her children, Costas and George, were obviously enamoured.
“It was amazing! We saw the Olympic flame. Did you know it’s been around the whole, wide world?” they exclaimed enthusiastically.
Tomorrow the flame will continue its final journey to Paralimni and Larnaca before it is flown to Crete. From there the torch will take a lengthy tour of its birthplace and then finally to Athens for the Games in August.
