The IOC says it is not concerned about protests during the Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony, due to begin in Olympia on Monday ©ITG

The International Olympic Committee’s Presidential spokesman Mark Adams has brushed aside concerns about possible protests at the Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony in Olympia for Beijing 2022.

"It is the start of something very precious," Adams said, speaking during a media conference after the IOC Executive Board meeting in Athens.

“We are looking forward very much to the lighting of the Flame in Olympia on Monday (October 18).

"The Olympic Games is probably one of the only events in the world that brings the whole world together in peace, it helps to build bridges and that is our mission.

"It will bring the world together, that is what we are here to do and the Flame symbolises that.

"We are at the moment concentrating on that and looking forward to a key moment heralding the Games in just a very few months time."

Organisers had announced that spectators will not be permitted at the Lighting Ceremony because of countermeasures against COVID-19. Attendance will be restricted to officials and media.

The event will be subject to tight security as Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou attends the Ceremony alongside IOC President Thomas Bach.

insidethegames understands that the archaeological site will also be closed to the public during the final dress rehearsal tomorrow.

Protesters from Reporters Without Borders attempted to approach Beijing Organising Committee President Liu Qi during a speech he gave at the 2008 Flame Lighting Ceremony in Olympia ©Getty Images
Protesters from Reporters Without Borders attempted to approach Beijing Organising Committee President Liu Qi during a speech he gave at the 2008 Flame Lighting Ceremony in Olympia ©Getty Images

After the Lighting Ceremony on Monday, the Relay in Greece will be restricted to a short run.

The Torch will be carried from the Ancient Stadium after the Ceremony by skier Ioannis Antoniou and handed to Chinese short track speed skater Li Jiajun.

It will then be taken along the road above the archaeological site and conclude at the bridge across the River Kladeos shortly before the road enters the village of Olympia.

The Flame will be taken directly to Athens for the official Handover Ceremony on Tuesday (October 19), a departure from convention which sees the Flame make a week long tour through Greece.

Groups in many countries have voiced opposition to the Chinese Government’s treatment of Tibetan and Uyghur minorities and a demonstration was held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne in June.

There have been calls in some countries for a boycott of the 2022 Winter Games.

When the Flame was lit in Olympia for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, protesters from "Reporters without Borders" unfurled a banner depicting the five Olympic Rings as handcuffs during the speech by Beijing Organising Committee President Liu Qi.

There were further disruptions in the village of Olympia and in Athens before the Handover Ceremony. 

An international Relay had been arranged to take the Flame to cities around the world but the progress of the Torch was also significantly disrupted in Paris, London, San Francisco and there were clashes in the Australian capital, Canberra.