Excitement builds for Thursday's Olympic torch lighting

Gia ta matia mou ta dio

The Hellenic Olympic Committee announced Monday that Vassilis Dimitriadis — a Greek giant slalom star who participated in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Winter Games — will be the first torchbearer. Toronto student Niki Georgiadou will be the last, carrying the torch into the Panathenian Stadium for the handover ceremony.

In between, the torch will travel through 22 districts, 42 municipalities, three municipal districts and one community. Organizers will conduct 36 lighting ceremonies, including two at archeological sites.