In a picturesque ceremony held on the steps of the National Palace, President Fernandez received the torch symbolizing the "National Games 200" event to be staged in La Romana at the end of this month. He received the torch from the hands Katty Acevedo, who won a silver medal at the Winnipeg games in 1998. The torch had been kindled earlier in the day at the National Pantheon, the massive stone mausoleum where an eternal flame burns before the tombs of many of the nation’s most distinguished and heroic figures. In the presence of Sports Minister Juan Marichal, and organizers of the games, Fernandez passed the torch to Ruddy Sanchez, who will carry it all around the country before bringing it to the site of the games’ opening ceremonies in La Romana on April 29th.
