The Olympic Flame began its journey from Ancient Olympia, after the Touching Ceremony for the 33rd Olympic Games 2024, pth will be hosted in Paris (26/7-11/8).

The Ceremony, hosted by Niko Aliagainspired by antiquity, took place in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in Ancient Olympia, according to the traditional ritual, again with a crowd of people after two events that lost their great “shine” due to the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, namely the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021 and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.

The Olympic Flame, shortly after 12:15, was not lit in the traditional way, by the sun’s rays, since the weather conditions did not allow it (cloudiness), but to light the torch it was used the help of the backup Flame held at the end of yesterday’s dress rehearsal.

So it all started from the temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, cradle of the ancient Olympic Games, 102 days before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, before a long journey that will take her from the Acropolis to Paris, passing through French Polynesia .

In the sanctuary of Olympia, in front of the ruins of the temple of Hera, 2,600 years old, the leading Greek actress Mary Mina he lit the torch from the Flame that had been kept, since this was not possible with the mirror due to cloud cover, in the Temple of Hera, in front of 600 guests and thousands of people.

Before, immediately following the arrival of PtD Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who arrived accompanied by IOC President Thomas Bach and EOE President Spyros Capralos, leading mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato performed the Olympic Anthem, followed by the raising of her flag of France and Greece, with the backing of the national anthems.

This was followed by greetings from the mayor of Ancient Olympia, Mr. Aristides Panagiotopoulos, the president of the Organizing Committee of the “Paris 2024” Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tony Estangue, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach and the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Kapralos, before the entrance to the Temple of Hera and the ritual of Touching the Olympic Flame.

After the lighting of the Olympic Flame, the Dance of the Priests followed and the 15 Kouros in the dance created and directed by the Choreographer Artemis Ignatiou, with costumes by Mary Katrantzou, to the sounds of the music of the composer Dimitris Papadimitriou, before the Prioress Mary Mina entered the Ancient Stadium with the Olympic Flame to deliver it to the first Torchbearer, Olympic Rowing Gold Medalist, Stefanos Dusko.

Present -among others- were the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, the head of the Organizing Committee (Cojo) Toni Estangue, the -Greek-origin- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with led by its president, Thomas Bach, and the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), Spyros Kapralos.

The historic sailing ship Le Belem has sailed to Katakolo for the Touching of the Olympic Flame and will leave on Thursday for Piraeus. The ship is believed to be carrying members of the French Olympic Committee and the Games Organizing Committee for the Touching of the Flame ceremony in Ancient Olympia.

Le Belem

Touch Ceremony

Touch Ceremony

Touch Ceremony