OLYMPIC CHANNEL PRESENTS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME LIGHTING CEREMONY FOR TOKYO 2020 FROM OLYMPIA, GREECE ON 12 MARCH 2020

Live Streaming Coverage Available Worldwide at olympicchannel.com and Olympic Channel Apps

MADRID – 11 March 2020 – Signalling the start of the countdown toward the Olympic Summer Games, the Olympic Flame Lighting ceremony is a captivating and historic event which will start the Olympic Torch Relay on the road to Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Channel will present LIVE streaming coverage from Olympia, Greece on Thursday, 12 March starting at 11:15 a.m. local time (9:15 a.m. UTC) on olympicchannel.com and its apps for mobile and connected TV devices.

Held in the home of the ancient Games in Greece, a torch at the ancient temple of Hera will be lit by the rays of the sun using a parabolic mirror to set off a domestic relay. The lighting ceremony will feature Xanthi Georgiou performing the role of the High Priestess who lights the flame inside a bowl capturing the rays of the sun.

The first torchbearer will be Greek Olympic gold medallist in shooting Anna Korakaki. She will then pass the torch to Japanese Olympic gold medallist in the marathon Mizuki Noguchi who will carry the Olympic Flame to beyond the Pierre de Coubertin Grove.

The torch will continue an eight-day journey through 37 cities in Greece before the flame handover ceremony on 19 March as it makes its way to Japan on 20 March. The Olympic Torch Relay in Japan will visit 47 prefectures in Japan over 121 days before arriving at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games on 24 July.

The Olympic Channel provides fans with a dedicated media platform to follow the stories behind the sports and athletes before, during and after the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Through inspirational stories, athlete interviews, breaking news, live events, original programming and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, the Olympic Channel provides comprehensive coverage of the road to Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Channel is available worldwide at olympicchannel.com and its apps for mobile and connected TV devices.

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About the Olympic Channel

The Olympic Channel is a multi-platform global media destination where fans can discover, engage and share in the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round. Offering original programming, news, live sports events and highlights, the Olympic Channel provides additional exposure for sports and athletes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in 12 languages. The Olympic Channel was launched in August 2016 in support of the IOC’s goal, set out in Olympic Agenda 2020, of providing a new way to engage younger generations, fans and new audiences with the Olympic Movement. Founding Partners supporting the Olympic Channel are Worldwide TOP Partners Bridgestone, Toyota and Alibaba. The Olympic Channel is available worldwide at olympicchannel.com, its mobile apps and on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and the Roku platform.

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Catherine Philbin

Sr. Manager, Communications

Olympic Channel

Calle Torrelaguna 75 – 1st Floor

28027 Madrid, Spain

catherine.philbin@olympicchannel.com

+34 609 219 674

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