The Greek island of Kastelorizo, located in the so called “agoni grammi” will finally be included in the Olympic torch relay across the country that gave birth to the Olympic Games.
Kastelorizo, a small island southeast of Rhodes, was not originally included in the route. The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) justified the decision saying officials did not meet the official deadline for applications.
In a recent public statement, Panos Kammenos’s Independent Greeks party condemned the decision, attributing it to what it said was yet another instance of Greece’s coalition government “bowing to serve the new world order.” The island had to be acknowledged as Greek once more, stressed the announcement.
Greece has so far been reluctant to declare an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) due to Turkey challenging the sovereignty of some Aegean islands such as Kastelorizo. A great deal needs to be arranged and clarified in regard to the territorial shelf.
HOC said Monday that following a decision by Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, the Dodecanese island would finally be included in the route of the Olympic Flame.
The relay will go through some 40-odd towns and cities on a 1,800-mile journey before the flame is flown to Britain for the traditional inauguration of the London Games 2012, which are set to begin on July 27.
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