"Every time you see it, it's like you see it for the first time". That's what Vice Mayor of Athens Vassilis Kikilias says about the Olympic Torch Relay. During an exclusive interview with China Radio International Friday, the Vice Mayor told our European correspondent Li Ningjing of his excitement to be an Olympic torch carrier for the 2008 Olympics Torch Relay, as well as the legacies left to Athens after hosting the Olympics in 2004.

Reporter:

As a former basketball pro, the Vice Mayor of Athens Vassilis Kikilias feels really thrilled to become a torch carrier for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"It's the first time I will have the honor to be a torch carrier, I think it's a great experience, it's sentimentally something unique. Because after the 2004 Olympic games in Athens Greece, now we have this opportunity to pass the torch to the next host, to Beijing China, and we have the great joy to wish this summer Olympics to be very successful one and everybody's gonna be very happy with them. "

For Kikilias who grew up in Athens, it's been a born privilege to watch Olympic torch relays passing through his doors every couple of years. But for him, Olympic torch relays always hold a certain magic.

"Every time you see it, it's like you see it for the first time. You do know we're a city with many cars and problems with circulation. But on that day, everything stops, the city is beautiful and people are out on the streets. And they are applauding and cheering and the feeling is great. It's a unique scene. I'm looking forward to running this time."

From the 24th till the 31st, people from all parts of Greek society ? officials, dignitaries, athletes, poets and scientists will take part in the Beijing Olympics Torch Relay. As one of the torchbearers, Vice Mayor Kikilias also shows great interest in the torch he's going to hold up high a couple of days later.

"We had an opportunity to see the Beijing torch for the Olympics Games. It looks good. I like it a lot. And they explained it to me that the semicircles and the curves and the red on the torch symbolize part of Chinese culture and the Forbidden City."

As for the hosting city of the 2004 Olympics, Athens has changed a lot for the better since the Games. It has not only built a new airport, good roads, and a metro which connects most of the Olympics sports facilities---but more importantly, Kikilias says, hosting the Games has made Greeks feel confident about themselves. He also stresses the importance of forward planning in organizing Olympic stadiums' use after the Games.

"I feel that there must be a strategy when you build the stadium. If you feel your country has a great tradition of soccer, and you need a football stadium, then build it and use it after the Olympic Games."

Vice Mayor Kikilias says he believes the Beijing Olympic Games will not only be a chance for the people of the world to get together, but also an exceptional opportunity for them to discover more about the Chinese culture. He thus expresses good wishes for the Beijing Games.

"We wish you all the best for Games. We're sure the Chinese are gonna show off to the world their culture, their civilization, and their way of life. We are very, very optimistic that the Games' are going to be very successful and the whole planet's going to be watching."

Li Ningjing, CRI News, Athens.