ATHENS, March 3 -- Greek Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis said on Monday Greece is ready to welcome the Chinese delegation, to enable them to receive the Flame during a simple and modest ceremony, as suits the spirit of the Olympic Games. The Flame Lighting Ceremony for Beijing Olympic Games falls on March 24.
Liapis visited Ancient Olympia on Monday saying that great progress has been achieved at the site to repair damage caused by the wildfire last August.
The minister said that the work which has been accomplished "is unprecedented" and spoke of a "small miracle."
On the question of restoration work, the minister said that "we did not wish to create a fictitious reality for the television cameras, or to change the natural balances in the region," adding that "we wanted to boost the natural revival of the environment, respecting the history of the site and we achieved this."