Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-05-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Armed forces sign contract with Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS)

[02] Olympic Flame lit in Athens for Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, Aug. 16-28

[01] Armed forces sign contract with Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS)

The contract, the first for EAS in four years, was signed on behalf of the company by CEO Sotiris Christogiannis and on behalf of the National Defence ministry by Dimitris Georgiopoulos, head of the directorate for defence armaments and investments (GDAEE). National Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and Alternate Minister Fofi Gennimata attended the ceremony.

Avramopoulos said the agreement "is a significant step towards the restructure and viability of the Hellenic Defence Systems and an additionally strong message of recovery, development and progress of the Greek economy," adding that "we only have a few months ahead of us to prove and reaffirm in Parliament our public commitment that EAS can and must be saved."

Gennimata said that "after four years of the agreement's stalling, the coordinated efforts of the new EAS management, the general staffs, the relevant directorate and the ministry's political leadership are bearing fruit."

[02] Olympic Flame lit in Athens for Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, Aug. 16-28

During the ceremony, actress Katerina Lehou, in the role of high priestess, lit the flame from the sun's rays to start the torch relay that will end up at Nanjing, eastern China, for the Games (running August 16-28). The relay was kicked off at the stadium by two Chinese and two Greek athletes. Rogge and Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Kapralos addressed the event briefly, before the torch was handed to Chinese Olympic Committee Chairman Liu Peng and Vice President and Vice President and Secretary General of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (NYOGOC) and Mayor of Nanjing, Miao Ruilin.

More than 3,500 athletes aged 15-18 will be taking part in the Youth Games, competing in 28 events that include the newly introduced 3x3 basketball. So far, seven Greek youths have qualified.

It is the third time the flame has been lit for a Youth Olympic Games, following the Summer Singapore Games in 2010 and the Youth Winter Games in Innsbruck in 2012. The Games were inspired by Rogge to inspire athletes aged 15 to 18 years of age to embrace Olympic ideals, including friendship and respect of other cultures.

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