At the torch-lighting and handoff ceremony for the IV Youth Olympic Games on Thursday, Deputy Minister of Culture Klea Papaellina attended on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, conveying the message that the Olympic ideals remain a timeless beacon for the younger generation.
As stated in today’s announcement by the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Flame of the IV Youth Olympic Games “Dakar 2026” was lit at the Panathenaic Stadium during a lighting and handover ceremony attended by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry. The music for the ceremony was composed by the distinguished Cypriot composer Marios Ioannou Elias, with Artemis Ignatiou serving as artistic director and choreographer.
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As noted, for the Youth Olympic Games, the lighting and handover of the Flame take place at the Panathenaic Stadium, a symbol of modern Olympic history.
Deputy Minister of Culture Klea Papaellina emphasized that the ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the power of culture and sports to build bridges between peoples. It was added that the flame is now traveling to Dakar, carrying with it the noble values of the Olympic spirit.
The Music of the Ceremony
The announcement notes that Marios Ioannou Ilias, who composed the music for the torch-lighting and handover ceremony, serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation and “is considered one of the most important contemporary Cypriot composers with international recognition today.” His work, it is added, ranges from symphonic music and oratorios to large-scale multimedia productions and innovative artistic projects that combine music, culture, technology, and public space.
It is also noted that his works “The Sound of Kyoto” and “The Sound of Shanghai” have garnered significant international acclaim, while his composition “Freedom” — a commission by the ERT Music Ensembles — was one of the most significant symphonic works of the events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution. His body of work also includes significant symphonic compositions, among them “The Sorrowing Virgin Marys,” which are linked to the collective memory and historical experience of the Greek community in Cyprus.
Source: CNA
