Paris 2024 Olympic Flame Lit at Ancient Olympia, Countdown to Games Begins

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach speaking at the ceremony. Photo source: International Olympic Committee

The Olympic flame that will be burning for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer was lit in Ancient Olympia on Tuesday, April 16.

Located in western Peloponnese, Ancient Olympia is one of the most celebrated sacred sites of Ancient Greece and the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The flame, which was lit during a ceremony organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) and attended by 600 guests and thousands of visitors, is expected to arrive in Paris for the Games’ opening ceremony on July 26 after traveling 102 days in Greece, the Mediterranean, and France.

“These Olympic Games will be younger, more inclusive, more urban, and more sustainable. These will be the very first Olympic Games with full gender parity because the IOC allocated exactly 50 percent of the places to female and male athletes,” International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said in his speech during the ceremony.

The Summer 2024 Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11 in Paris.

Cloudy weather prevents traditional lighting of torch

Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, Greece. Photo source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

The ceremony began with actress Mary Mina in the role of an ancient Greek high priestess who lit the torch. Due to cloudy weather the silver torch was not ignited in the traditional way by the sun’s rays but with a backup flame lit the day before during the final rehearsal.

The ritual was followed by the dance of the priestesses and the 15 kouros (ancient Greek statues of men) before the flame was handed over to the first torchbearer of this year’s delegation and gold medalist, Stefanos Douskos.

Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato then sang the Olympic Anthem and the ceremony continued with the raising of the French and Greek flags with the national anthems playing in the background.

‘The Olympic flame is reborn’

The State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of France Chrysoula Zacharopoulou and the Greek Tourism Minister, Olga Kefalogianni at the ceremony. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

“Today the Olympic Flame was born again in the sacred land of Ancient Olympia, reminding us that it was, is and will be the torch of human existence, the bond of nations and people,” Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said during the ceremony.

“Today the whole world has its eyes on Olympia… The flame will reach the City of Light, Paris, the city of democracy and enlightenment.,” she continued, adding that the flame will pass on the message of peace and coexistence during its journey.

“The Olympic flame, a symbol of universality and brotherhood, lights the way to the modern world with universal, timeless, classical values,” the minister said.

The ceremony was also attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou; the President of the HOC, Spyros Capralos; the Mayor of Ancient Olympia, Aristides Panagiotopoulos; and the President of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games “Paris 2024,” Tony Estanghe.

Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay

Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, Greece. Photo source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

A toral of 11,000 torchbearers will create a relay honoring the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

According to the IOC, the route of the flame in Greece was designed to meet four main aspirations: to cover the whole of Greece, connecting the four ends of the country; to bring together the most important archaeological sites in Greece; to travel across emblematic landscapes that make up the beauty of the country; and to honor the historical ties uniting France and Greece.

“The choice of the route of the Olympic flame in Greece is based on the wish to honor the history that links Greece and France, one that has developed over the years into a powerful friendship.”

The first torchbeare and gold medalist, Stefanos Douskos. Photo source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

The Olympic torch will travel through 41 Greek municipalities for a total of 5,000 kilometers. The torchbearers will pass through several of the country’s most significant archaeological sites. Ten days later on April 26, the torch will arrive at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, and be handed over to the Paris 2024 organizers.

On May 8, the torch will sail from Athens across the Mediterranean Sea to Marseille. The flame will arrive in France on a ship named Belem and then travel across 65 French territories for 68 days. The Olympic flame will arrive in Paris for the Olympic Games 2024 opening ceremony on July 26. The Olympic Games will come to an end on August 11.

Tickets for the 2024 Olympics can be found here.