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[IN PICTURES] The lighting ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the 2024 Olympics live from Greece

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The Editor

© @viewsfrance - X

On Tuesday, April 16, the Olympic Flame was lit in the sanctuary of Olympia, as tradition dictates. This iconic moment signals the start of a special journey, both geographically and culturally, from the Acropolis to Marseille, and finally to Paris on July 26, 2024.

The Olympic torch is all set to kick off its thrilling adventure! The lighting ceremony happened on Tuesday, April 16 from 9:30 to 12, at the amazing site of Olympia in Greece. In the midst of the ancient ruins of the temple of Hera, everyone had a unique part to play in the customary ritual. The "high priestess" and the initial relay runners were accompanied by a cheerful crowd of onlookers and VIPs who came together for this extraordinary moment.


A "high priestess" and 600 guests 

After two editions spoiled by the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020 and 2021, the ceremony was able to take place without a hitch. Under the gaze of 600 international guests, a "high priestess," embodied for this edition by the Greek actress Mary Mina, lit and waved the flame, surrounded by a myriad of women dressed in costumes inspired by ancient Greece. Also present were the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, the French Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo. 

According to information from the AFP, due to cloudy skies, the lighting could not be done with the sun's rays, and was done with a reserve flame instead.


Laure Manaudou, first French relay runner 

The precious torch was then taken into the ancient stadium and handed to the first relay runner, accompanied by an olive branch, a symbol of peace. To start the Olympic relay, none other than Greek Stefanos Ntouskos, Olympic rowing champion in Tokyo 2021, followed by French swimmer Laure Manaudou, who won her first Olympic title in the 400 meters freestyle at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

At noon, the ceremony ended, but the flame still has a long journey ahead of her. She will leave Olympia to cross the Peloponnese and land in Athens. The Flame will then change continents and take to the sea aboard the three-masted Belem. On May 8, the torch will arrive in Marseille, beginning her journey through the French roads. The different relays will take place until June 7, when the Flame will tour the Overseas Departments. On June 18, Nice will welcome the torch back to the mainland, and it will conclude its tour during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, after being carried by nearly 10,000 scouts.Oh, look at this fun little script that brings Twitter widgets onto our website! Let's add it and see what new interactions we can enable for our users. Let the tweets flow in!