Cypriot composer Marios Joannou Elias appointed for Olympic Flame ceremonies

The Hellenic Olympic Committee has announced that internationally acclaimed Cypriot composer Marios Joannou Elias will provide the music for the Olympic Flame Lighting and Handover ceremonies. This collaboration is set to begin on September 10, 2026, at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, during the ceremony for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The new musical score will accompany choreography directed by Artemis Ignatiou, who serves as the artistic director for the rituals and the group of priestesses, aiming to blend ancient Greek tradition with contemporary artistic elements.

Thomas Tokas, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee’s Torch Relay Commission, praised the selection, citing the composer’s international track record and ability to produce symbolic work. In addition to his Olympic duties, Marios Joannou Elias has recently been appointed by the Council of Ministers as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation. The composer expressed that these roles represent a significant professional milestone, allowing him to connect modern musical creation with universal Olympic values.