The Olympic fire is already on its way to Paris. This Tuesday has taken place the lighting of the Olympic torch in the ruins of ancient Olympia, in a traditional ceremony in which the god Apollo was invoked and the flame was handed to the first bearer, the Greek Stéfanos Duskos, gold medalist in rowing at the Tokyo 2020 Games, who led it to the monument to Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games.
“God of the sun and of the ideal of light, you sent your rays and lit the sacred flame for the hospitable city of Paris,” exclaimed Greek actress Mary Mina, in her role as the High Priestess of Olympia, as she lit the Olympic torch addressing Apollo, surrounded by other priestesses and vestal virgins.
La Flamme Olympique est allumée 🔥
Le relais de la Flamme de #Paris2024 peut commencer !
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The Olympic Flame is alive 🔥
The #Paris2024 Olympic Torch Relay can start ! pic.twitter.com/zGFt6hoWzo— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) April 16, 2024
After the handover to Stéfanos Duskos, the Greek athlete did the same to the second bearer, French swimmer Laure Manaudou (three Olympic medals at the 2004 Athens Games, including a gold medal in 400m freestyle). For ten days, the Olympic flame will make its journey through Greece, concluding on April 26 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, site of the first contemporary Games in 1896. The following day, the torch will set sail for Marseille (France) on the historic three-masted sailing ship ‘Belem’ from the Greek capital’s port of Piraeus.
This traditional ceremony began with the raising of the Olympic, French and Greek flags, followed by speeches by the Mayor of Olympia and the Presidents of the International, French and Greek Olympic Committees. All this is a connection between the Games of Antiquity, born in Olympia in 776 BC, and the Games of Modernity. This ceremony has been held at this historic site before each edition of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games since 1936.
WARS STOPPED DURING THE GAMES
In Antiquity, all wars between the different Greek cities were stopped during the Games so that everyone could participate and, in this sense, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the German Thomas Bach, appealed that the Games are a symbol of peace and international unity “in these difficult times that are full of wars and conflicts”. He agrees with the president of the Greek Olympic Committee, Spyros Kapralos, who wishes to “spread the vision of peace and respect by calling on nations to implement the Olympic truce”.
La Flamme Olympique s’allume aujourd’hui à Olympie et le 8 mai, elle entrera en piste en France, à Marseille.
Célébrons ensemble le début des Jeux de #Paris2024
Rendez-vous sur le Vieux-Port pour une grande fête ouverte à tous !
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The Olympic Flame is lit today in Olympia, and… pic.twitter.com/eDwln1IQVW— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) April 16, 2024