The Beijing 2022 Olympics flame was lit at Greece’s ancient Olympia on Monday, just over 100 days before the start of the Games in February, as a handful of Tibetan protesters attempted to protest inside the ancient site.
The Chinese capital will become the first city to host both the Winter and Summer Games when it stages the February 4-20 event.
With the public excluded amid pandemic safety measures, and a cloudless sky over the verdant site of Ancient Olympia, the flame was ceremoniously kindled using the rays of the sun before being carried off on a mini torch relay.
Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou, playing the role of the High Priestess, hands an olive branch to the first torch bearer, Greek alpine ski racer, Ioannis Antoniou. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.
Three human rights activists entered the site of the ancient Greek stadium and temple where the flame for the Olympic Games is traditionally lit, despite a strong police presence, and attempted to unfurl banners just after the torch was lit. They were stopped by security and led away.
Four other protesters had been detained by police outside the stadium an hour before the ceremony.
Rights groups and US lawmakers have called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Games and relocate the event unless China ends what the United States deems ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups.
But despite widespread international criticism of China’s human rights record, the International Olympic Committee has shied away from the issue, saying it falls outside its remit.
In his speech during the ceremony, IOC President Thomas Bach stressed that the modern Games must be “respected as politically neutral ground.”
The Olympic flame will now be taken to Athens and handed over to Beijing organisers on Tuesday at the renovated stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
Stories of survival in the face of persecution and investigative reports about scams targeting diverse communities are among the winners of the 2021 Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards.
Minister for Multiculturalism Natalie Ward revealed early last week the successful entries across 12 categories.
Among the winners was The Greek Herald’s own digital journalist, Andriana Simos, who won Best Audio-Visual Report and was named Young Journalist of the Year.
The Greek Herald was a finalist in the Publication of the Year category together with four other finalists.
“These awards recognise the vital role our multicultural communicators play in delivering critical information and connecting with our diverse communities,” Mrs Ward said.
“Our multicultural media professionals have been tireless in sharing crucial health messages throughout the pandemic and have been instrumental in helping to keep our community safe.
🎉Congratulations to all the winners of the 2021 Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards! The work done by multicultural media and multicultural marketers this year has been lifesaving. You can view a full list of the winners here https://t.co/imUjWMSGpXpic.twitter.com/27cPRevyZm
“I commend this year’s winners and finalists and would like to thank them for their ongoing support in communicating with diverse audiences across NSW.”
Minister Ward congratulated the winners and finalists for bringing a voice to topics such as racism, migrant exploitation and the impact of COVID on the state’s diverse communities.
“I am delighted that the NSW Government is the only state in Australia to recognise multicultural communicators with a stand-alone awards program,” she said.
Young journalist, Andriana Simos, said she is incredibly honoured and proud of this recognition.
“When NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Natalie Ward, first called me to tell me I had won Young Journalist of the Year and Best Audio-Visual Report in the 2021 Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards, I was in complete disbelief,” Miss Simos said.
“Since the beginning of my journalism career, I have always believed in the power of a community and its people, so to be given an award for my reporting on the Greek community is an absolute honour and something I will always cherish and not take for granted.”
Miss Simos applauded all nominees and fellow Greek Australian, Mikala Theocharous, who was finalist for the Alan Knight Student Award, and thanked her family and colleagues.
“This award would not be possible without the continuous support of my amazing family, my work family at The Greek Herald, friends and members of the Greek community who I have interviewed in my nearly two years at the newspaper,” she said.
The achievements of the 2021 winners will be recognised at the Premier’s Harmony Dinner next year.
Australian referee, Joanna Charaktis, was sitting in lockdown in Melbourne when she saw over the news how the Taliban rapidly took control of Afghanistan after capturing its capital city, Kabul.
Speaking with the ABC’s Samantha Lewis, she says she instantly reached out to a Facebook friend from Afghanistan who was heavily involved in football and ended up helping her find a way out of the country.
Assistant referees Joanna Charaktis (right) and Danielle Andersen (second right) walk onto the pitch for a W-League game. Photo: Football Victoria.
“I spoke to my mentor, [referee] Allyson Flynn, and told her the story. She had just been included in a mentoring program with Women Onside and had been paired with [former Matilda] Moya Dodd,” she told ABC News.
“She [Flynn] reached out to Moya, who said to her, ‘There’s this whole rescue mission happening for the national football team, so maybe we can get these people on that list’.”
Did you know the Oxford Dictionary says that on average there is about 470,000 English words with more than 150,000 having Greek roots?
This fun fact, and many more, were on full display in Canberra on Saturday as the capital city held it’s first ever Celebration of Languages event.
During the online event, people had the opportunity to learn about a number of languages including the Slavic languages (Croation, Serbian, Polish and Czech), the Romantic languages (Romanian, French, Italian, Spanish and Portugese), and the German language.
The Greek lecture given by Mr Loukadellis. Photo supplied.
Of course, the Greek language was also on full display with the President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra, John Loukadellis, giving a lecture titled ‘Greece is the Word.’
During the lecture, Mr Loukadellis spoke about the Greek influence on the English language for about 7 minutes before people were given a chance to ask questions.
Mr Loukadellis spoke about the influence of the Greek language on the English vocabularly.
“I was proud to deliver the message of the value and influence of the Greek language to the people in attendance… I wanted to show that you don’t have to be Greek to learn to speak Greek,” Mr Loukadellis, who is also Principal of the Community’s Greek School, told The Greek Herald after the event.
Last year, the inaugural Celebration of Languages at Gungahlin Library was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. This year’s event was changed to a virtual celebration – again due to the pandemic – but it is expected to continue as an annual ‘real life’ event from next year.
The recently announced vaccination popup hubs being run by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) in Prahran and Brunswick have received support and encouragement by the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt.
“In collaboration with Melbourne Primary Health Networks and the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne, the Australian Government is proud to be supporting a mass vaccination activity in the coming weeks,” Minister Hunt said.
“We anticipate that some 2,000 people will be vaccinated over the coming month at these pop-up clinics in key locations in Melbourne. This activity forms a part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring timely vaccinations for all people, including some of our most vulnerable communities including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“I would like to commend and thank Mr Bill Papastergiadis OAM and the Victorian and Melbourne Greek Orthodox Community for their support and leadership in this life saving effort to ensure as many people as possible are vaccinated in their community.”
Bill Papastergiadis (left) with Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt.
Following the success of the vaccine pop-up at the GCM’s St George Church in Thornbury, the GCM sought further support to extend its vaccinations program aimed in part at vulnerable community members.
Two Pfizer programs have been supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Health via the PHN:
Wednesday, October 20 to Saturday, October 23 at St Demetrios church in Prahran; and
October 30 and 31 at St Eleftherios in Brunswick.
The vaccination hubs aim to help Victoria reach its vaccination goals faster by targeting local communities.
The President of the GCM, Mr Bill Papastergiadis OAM said: “We are working with the Federal Government and Minister Hunt on bringing vaccinations closer to our communities. This is an important step in protecting lives and opening up society so that we can once again spend time with our loved ones here and abroad.”
Greg Hunt MP has praised the GCM for pop-up vax hubs in Prahran and Brunswick.
“We thank Minister Hunt for working with the Greek Community of Melbourne on this initiative. At all times the Minister has been accessible and friendly in his dealings with us. He has demonstrated a real commitment on making this initiative happen. He has personally involved himself to ensure it’s success.”
The Windsor hub is being run by medical staff from the Port Melbourne Medical Centre, who also run a pop up centre at the Port Melbourne Football Club.
As with the GCM’s earlier Thornbury effort, the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA) will once again be supporting the Prahran and Brunswick initiatives by provide Greek speaking doctors at each location.
The president of the HMSA and GCM Board member, A/Prof Marinis Pirpiris, encouraged the community to get vaccinated saying “vaccinations have never been more accessible.”
“The Federal Government initiative is aimed to provide culturally and linguistically diverse communities an ability to get vaccinated in a hub that is convenient. The community hubs provide information in a format that addresses concerns in a culturally inclusive manner by addressing cultural and social concerns in a patient centered approach,” he noted.
A pop-up vaccination clinic will also be set up at St Eleftherios Greek Orthodox church in Brunswick.
“The Greek Community of Melbourne and the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia are committed to providing information and access to vaccines for the members of our community to make informed and timely decision related to their health.
“Please book and come and visit the hubs. There will be health care workers and doctors to answer your questions and concerns. The vaccines help provide everyone with an ability to protect your families, loved ones, friends and colleagues from serious illness and death from COVID-19.”
The Windsor vaccination pop-up hub at St Demetrios Church Hall at 380 High Street, Prahran, will be held on Wednesday, October 20 to Saturday, October 23.
Bookings are essential and can be made via the following link: https://bit.ly/GOCVaxHub or by calling 03 9662 2722 (Mon – Fri).
Please note that walk-ups will not be accepted.
Information and registration details about the Brunswick vaccination pop-up at St Eleftherios church hall on Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31 will follow.
Australians travelling overseas will finally be able to download an international COVID-19 certificate to prove their vaccination status before they board a plane.
Fully vaccinated travellers with a valid passport will be able access the certificate, which will be recognised internationally, from Tuesday through their MyGov account or Medicare.
The International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates work in a similar fashion to existing vaccine certificates, but they have added QR codes that can be scanned by foreign border officials.
Australians travelling overseas will finally be able to download an international COVID-19 certificate to prove their vaccination status.
“If you travel overseas, and that overseas country requires proof of your vaccination status, you will have a copy of it,” Employment Minister Stuart Robert said.
“You may not have to use it — there may be many countries you’ll visit that have no requirement to demonstrate you’ve been vaccinated.
“But the last thing the government wants for Australians when they travel overseas is to be stuck overseas because they can’t prove they’ve been vaccinated.”
The documents are linked to a physical passport, with people asked to provide their passport details when they request the document from Medicare.
Scott Morrison announced international travel restrictions would start to ease from the beginning of November for fully vaccinated Australians.
The certificate is then sent to the person who requested it, and they can print it off or store it as a file on their smartphone.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced international travel restrictions would start to ease from the beginning of November for fully vaccinated Australians.
In NSW, international travel to and from Sydney will resume for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members from November 1 with no quarantine requirements for those who are fully vaccinated.
A visit by outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens has been finalised for October 29.
The Chancellor had been invited to Greece by Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during the European Union Slovenia summit. Chancellor Merkel accepted the invitation on the spot but there was no date fixed.
On the practical level, the visit is important as Merkel remains a key player in the European Union until a government is formed and a new chancellor steps in for Berlin.
But it is its symbolic significance that is drawing attention in Greece, where Merkel worked with seven successive prime ministers, including Mitsotakis.
Before relinquishing the chancellorship, Merkel has been visiting several other countries. On Saturday, Merkel visited Istanbul and met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In a joint press conference, the chancellor stressed the importance of maintaining exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey for the resolution of outstanding differences.
The Greek Orthodox Church of Thomastown in Melbourne’s north is among the latest additions to Victoria’s COVID-19 exposure sites list.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord church had a case visit on October 10 from 8.30am to 1pm. Anyone who was at the church during that time needs to get a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days.
Other new tier 1 venues include:
Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, Sanctuary Mineral Bathing Area between 1pm and 2.30pm on October 10
Bendigo Wholefoods Cafe between 7am and 4.30pm on October 9.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord church in Thomastown has been listed as a tier 1 exposure site.
Victoria’s new roadmap out of lockdown:
This news comes as Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced on Sunday that Melbourne will officially leave lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday as the state hits its 70 per cent vaccine milestone.
Under the new road map, there will be no travel limit across metropolitan Melbourne and 10 visitors, including dependants, will be allowed to visit a home per day.
In Melbourne, the curfew will go and the 15-kilometre travel radius will be lifted, but travel restrictions between Melbourne and regional Victoria will remain in place.
Victoria’s staggered return to school will commence this Friday, earlier than previously planned. Early childhood education and childcare will be open for children of vaccinated parents.z
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced on Sunday that Melbourne will officially leave lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday.
In the hospitality realm, venues will be open for indoor food and drink service but only for a maximum of 20 fully vaccinated customers.
Outdoor community sport will be allowed again for training only (no competition) for the minimum number required.
Outdoor swimming pools will be open for up to 50 fully vaccinated people and zoos will open at 25 per cent capacity for fully vaccinated visitors.
Weddings will be allowed for up to 20 fully vaccinated people or 10 unvaccinated people indoors and 50 fully vaccinated people or 20 unvaccinated people outdoors subject to density limits.
Restrictions are easing in Victoria. Photo: ABC News / Danielle Bonica.
General retail will be open for outdoor service only plus click and collect, while hairdressing will be open for up to five fully vaccinated people.
Premier Andrews said on Sunday he’s proud of the community for taking actions which made the reopening possible.
“I could not be more proud of our community for coming forward and making these decisions to protect themselves, to protect the people they love, and to protect all of us against this global pandemic,” he said.
A sunburst at the overcast birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece was too short-lived to light the backup flame for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Sunday’s dress rehearsal.
It was the second blip of the day, after two protesters were detained on the Acropolis in Athens trying to raise a banner to draw attention to human-rights abuses in China.
There has been widespread international criticism of China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the northwest region of Xinjiang, as well as its crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong and its policies toward Tibet and Taiwan.
A sunburst at the overcast birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece was too short-lived to light the backup flame. Photo: Reuters / Alkis Konstantinidis.
But the International Olympic Committee has shied away from the issue, saying it’s out of its remit.
The question of the weather over Olympia is simpler. Greek organisers have another backup flame lit in advance if the traditional way, using a bowl-shaped mirror to focus the sun’s rays on a torch, fails again due to clouds disrupting the ceremony on Monday.
Health measures for the second pandemic flame-lighting at Ancient Olympia, in the southern Peloponnese region, mean that much of the normal pageantry is being trimmed back. There will be no spectators on Monday, and only three runners will take part in a symbolic relay that would normally have lasted days.
Skier Ioannis Antoniou, the first torch bearer, holds an olive branch during the final rehearsal for the lighting of the Olympic flame at Ancient Olympia site. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.
The flame will be taken to Athens and handed over to Beijing organisers on Tuesday at the renovated ancient stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
Protest at the Acropolis:
Earlier Sunday, two activists attempted to hang a banner from the scaffolding on the Acropolis before being detained. Human rights activists had also staged protests during the flame-lighting ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, and disrupted the international torch relay.
Protesters shout slogans as they climb on scaffolding at the Acropolis hill, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, October 17, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis.
The women, 18-year-old Tibetan student, Tsela Zoksang, and 22-year-old exiled Hong Kong activist, Joey Siu, both American citizens, are members of the “No Beijing 2022” campaign, the New York-based organisation Students for a Free Tibet said.
A security officer took the banner away, but the activists remained on the scaffolding and deployed a Tibetan flag and a smaller banner proclaiming, “Free Hong Kong Revolution.” They also chanted slogans including “Free Tibet,” “Boycott Beijing 2022” and “No freedom, no Games,” before police arrived and detained them.
Protests are not allowed on the Acropolis — which has not stopped several from being held over the years by groups ranging from Communist unionists to soccer fans.
The Beijing Winter Games will run from February 4-20. Only spectators from mainland China will be allowed to attend. Everyone at the Olympics — including athletes — will be expected to be vaccinated, or else have to spend 21 days in quarantine.
The Paralympics are set to follow from March 4-13.
After 155 flight hours, 986 water-bombing operations, and more than 2,460 tonnes of water dropped, four water-bombing helicopters and 20 crew members have been redeployed back to Australia from Greece.
The Four Bell 214BI water-bombing helicopters owned and operated by McDermott Aviation Group, along with a crew of 20 pilots, translators and engineers, were donated by industrial group Mytilineos to the Greek fire-fighting and civil protection authorities for a period of two months.
“Mytilineos has proven over time that it is always present during difficult times of our country. This disaster has shocked us all,” Vivian Bouzali, General Manager of Communications and Strategic Marketing at Mytilineos, told The Greek Heraldin August.
“These helicopters, with a cost of 3.3 million euros, fully covered by Mytilineos will remain in our country for two months. Until the last spark that threatens our homeland goes out.”
And so with a moving ceremony, the Greek authorities, Mytilineos, and Consul Sue Parkes, bode farewell to the crews and Australian helicopters that assisted in the Greek firefighting efforts over the summer.
“A big thank you to the authorities and Mytilineos SA for their confidence in fire-fighting capability. A big thank you to the crews for their efforts to support Greek firefighters and the local communities,” the Australian Embassy in Greece said in a Facebook statement.
