The official Flame lighting ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens marked the historic occasion of the Flame being handed to two host countries for the first time.

The high priests ignited the Flame before Greek EYOF Alpine skiing competitor Panagiotis Papapanagiotou gave it to Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, to present to Austrian Olympic Committee secretary general Peter Mennel and Liechtenstein Olympic Committee President Leo Kranz.

"We are happy to be invited to the founding place of the Olympic Games and to receive the Olympic Flame for the second time in three years," said Mennel, who also wished the Greek delegation of five athletes and four officials a safe trip to Montafon for the Festival.

"In 2012 we were the hosts of the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck.

"Now we are back as hosts of the European Youth Olympic Festival in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein from 25 to 30 January."

Kranz added: "This day has a very special meaning for both, Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein.

"The common preparations of the EYOF have welded the two countries together.

"Both countries benefit from the synergy and are really looking forward to this big event."

The Flame was then handed to Stefan Dürr, the former President of the Liechtenstein Skiing Federation, who thus became the first Torch Bearer, before it was flown to Vorarlberg in a sponsored private jet.

The official Flame lighting ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium marked the first time in history that the Flame was handed to two host countries ©EYOF2015


The Olympic Flame will now begin its Relay, which gets underway on Wednesday (January 21), through Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein.

The three-day tour will see it stopping at 12 schools, where some 3,500 pupils and athletes will celebrate its arrival.

It will then travel to the Montafon Nordic Centre in Tschagguns for the EYOF Opening Ceremony on Sunday (January 25).

The Festival will continue until January 30 and will see young athletes from across Europe competing in biathlon, Alpine skiing, snowboard, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, ice hockey and figure skating.

Further details on the Torch Relay, including stops, can be found here. 

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