The Milan-Cortina Olympic flame in Western Macedonia between sport and political claims
The torch route in Greece touches key winter sports locations, highlighting historical and political tensions with North Macedonia
NAOUSSA - Of course, it was more than obvious that the Greek journey of the Flame of Milan-Cortina would have to touch on the main winter sports locations in the north of the country, especially in western Macedonia. It had already happened before for the Flame's journey of other Winter Olympics and so it was for Milan-Cortina as well. But going so far north as in this case and only a few kilometres from the border with North Macedonia and Albania took on, in addition to the sporting aspect, the connotations of a political claim to full sovereignty over those territories.
Yesterday, after the stop in Kastoria, the first appointment of the Flame was in Florina not even that far from the Prespa lakes where in 2018 the agreement between Greece and North Macedonia was signed, a precondition for Skopje's entry into NATO and the EU. But the polemics between Athens and Skopje are by no means archived. The tensions were rekindled a few months ago when Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski referred to the country as 'Macedonia' instead of 'North Macedonia' on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Macedonian president, prompting strong condemnation from the Greek Foreign Ministry, which called this gesture a 'flagrant violation of the Prespa Agreement' and stressed the importance of North Macedonia fully respecting its commitments in order to progress on its European path.
Carrying with it the spirit of unity and resilience, the Flame nevertheless continued its journey northwards into western Macedonia.
In Florina, and especially later in the picturesque stone village of Agios Athanasios, local customs and traditions have a very Balkan flavour. It is the deep Greece linked to its territory and its millenary history. The Flame returned to the mountains at Agios Athanasios on Mount Voras, a popular winter destination for many young Greeks. Then the Flame reached Edessa, the city of waterfalls, continuing on to Skydra, the agricultural heart of the region for its fruit production. Towards evening, the Flame reached Naoussa on the slopes of Mount Vernio. Tomorrow the Flame is expected to turn the corner before returning to Athens: after Giannitsa there will be the destination further north, namely Serres, almost towards the Bulgarian border before resting in the valley, in Thessaloniki, the region's capital city, with torchbearers on the promenade to the White Tower and then to the Olympic sports museum.
