Greece Hands Olympic Flame to Paris 2024 Organizers

The Panathenaic Stadium cauldron. Photo source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

Greece on Friday handed over the flame for the Summer Olympic Games to a delegation from the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee during a symbolic ceremony in Athens.

The event took place at the Kallimarmaro Panathenaic Stadium, marking the end of the 11-day Olympic Torch Relay through Greece and signaling the transition of the relay to France.

“It is therefore with great joy and emotion that we all welcome the Olympic flame together here…to hand it over to the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee with a feeling of respect and solidarity,” said Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos.

Hosted by the Hellenic Organization Committee (HOC), the handover ceremony began at 6.30 pm with Nikos Aliagas as the master of ceremonies. Singer Nana Mouschouri performed the national anthems of France and Greece, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir of ERT (Greek national television).

Afterwards, the ceremony saw the flame enter the stadium carried by Greek race-walking Olympian Antigoni Ntrismpioti. The last torchbearer was the captain of the national polo team, Ioannis Fountoulis, and his teammates, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The ceremony culminated with the lighting of the Panathenaic Stadium cauldron by the high priestess Mary Mina.

Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee handing over the Olympic Torch to the President of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee, Tony Estanguet. Photo source: Hellenic Olympic Committee

At the end, using the flames from the cauldron, the high priestess lit a final torch, passing it to Spyros Capralos. He then handed over the Olympic Torch to the President of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee, Tony Estanguet, to continue its journey to Paris.

“After a wait of 100 years, the flame will soon reach France through Marseille. See you on May 8,” said Estanguet.

The journey of the torch started from Ancient Olympia on April 16 and travelers around Greece until April 26. The flame is now scheduled to arrive in Marseille on May 8 following its voyage across the Mediterranean aboard the Belem ship. The flame will then travel across France before arriving in Paris for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26.

The Summer 2024 Olympic Games will wrap up on August 11.