Amid historic surroundings, the Olympic flame for the Paris 2024 games ignites, marking a return to tradition after pandemic disruptions
The Olympic flame for the upcoming 2024 Paris Games will be lit this Tuesday in the ancient town of Olympia, Greece, the venerable site of the ancient Olympic Games, inaugurated in 776 BCE. The ceremony promises a grand spectacle with hundreds of dignitaries and spectators gathered to witness this quadrennial ritual.
Marking a departure from the scaled-back ceremonies of the recent pandemic-affected Games, this year’s event will see full public participation. Greek actress Mary Mina is slated to ignite the Olympic flame using a traditional parabolic mirror, a method steeped in historical significance, echoing the original spirit of the Games.
During Monday’s rehearsal, Stefanos Ntouskos, Greece’s 2020 Olympic rowing champion, was the first to receive the torch from Mina. In a gesture that connects past with present, the torch relay will begin at the iconic Temple of Hera ruins, under the watchful eyes of Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee.
Adding to the grandeur of the occasion, French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will also be in attendance, underscoring the significance of the event ahead of the Parisian Games. Artemis Ignatiou, the choreographer of the ceremony, described the event’s ambience to ERT, highlighting the ethereal experience expected at the historic venue.
The ceremonial handover of the flame will occur on April 26 at Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium, further linking modern Olympic celebrations with their ancestral roots. The flame’s journey will then proceed to France, aboard the Belem, a three-masted barque dating back to the era of the 1896 Athens Games.
Upon reaching France, the torch will traverse an impressive 12,000 kilometres, passing through 64 French territories, and enlisting the participation of 10,000 torchbearers. This extensive relay will showcase the flame across numerous French locales, from mainland regions to far-flung overseas territories.
This year’s Olympic torch relay not only honours the ancient traditions but also adapts to contemporary times, featuring an inclusive path across both the Greek landscape and French territories. The final leg of its journey will see the flame featured in a unique opening ceremony on the River Seine in Paris, breaking tradition from the usual stadium-based inauguration.
