Hollywood star Gerard Butler arrives in Athens for Olympic Flame

Gerald Butler, who starred as Spartan King Leonidas in the blockbuster movie “300”, an onscreen adaptation of Frank Miller’s homonymous comic book, will be among the Olympic torchbearers on March 13 from Mystras to Sparta as the torch starts its global journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Municipality of Sparta is planning to hold a series of events in 2020 to celebrate the 2,500-year anniversary of the legendary last stand of the 300 Spartans at the Battle at Thermopylae against the mighty Persian Empire in 480BC.

Mayor of Sparta Petros Doukas explained his local council’s ambitious plans in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

He said the aim was to honour the Spartans while promoting the region touristically. With this goal in mind the Mayor said an international honourary committee consisting of renowned personalities, who agreed to voluntarily contribute to the events out of their shared love for the proud Spartan history, had been set up.