00:00It was just last week that we stood in ancient Olympia
00:04and experienced the timeless ritual of the flame lighting ceremony.
00:11For me it was the first time I got to do this as president of the International Olympic Committee.
00:17It was an incredible moment that filled me with so many emotions.
00:23Gratitude for our past, hope for our future,
00:27and inspiration for what unites us.
00:33Today, seeing this flame arrive here in Rome,
00:38I feel that same emotion all over again.
00:42But this time it is mixed with the warmth and the energy of the Italian spirit.
00:49The Olympic flame is arriving to a nation that lives and breathes sport.
00:55Bella Italia.
00:57Where passion shines through in everything that you do.
01:02As an athlete, I got to experience this first hand when I competed in 2009 at the World Championships here
01:10in Rome.
01:12It still to this day is one of my most memorable World Championships of my entire career.
01:18As the torch relay begins this journey across the beautiful country of Italy,
01:25it will connect millions of Italians from the Alps to Sicily,
01:31from the biggest cities to the smallest villages.
01:34Each torchbearer will carry a piece of Italy's spirit.
01:39Your creativity, your courage, your heritage, and your joy and passion for life.
01:47Amen.
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