Only 101 days until the opening ceremony of the next Olympic Gameswhich will be taking place in France, Paris, the traditional lighting of the Olympic flame took place in the city of Olympia, the scene where the first Olympic Games of Antiquity were held in the year 776 BC
In a traditional ceremony held right in front of the ruins of the 2,600-year-old temple of Hera, The actress who played the High Priestess held the Olympic torch in the cauldron until it was lit and displayed its flame, one of the most important and anticipated moments in the Olympic cycles. Once the fire was at its maximum, the torch went to the stadium where the traditional dance that took place in the Ancient Olympic Games could be seen.
The ceremony had to take place last Monday and was broadcast live today, Tuesday, through the official platforms of the International Olympic Committee and this due to the weather conditions because the cloudy sky prevented the lighting with the sun’s rays as required by the ancient tradition. This information was confirmed by Nikos Aliagas, the French presenter, according to information published by the newspaper Le Parisien.
Very important figures were present at the ceremony
In front of approximately 600 guests and also with the presence of important personalities from Franceas was the mayor of Paris Anne Hidaldo, the president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, Tony Estanguet, as well as the Minister of Sports and Olympic Games of the city HEADQUARTERS Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the notes of the Olympic anthem were heard. was performed by opera singer Joyce DiDonato.
After that the moment would come when Marseillaise, who was accompanied by the hoist of the French flag to later hear the anthem of Greece and the flag of the iconic country in the history of the Olympic Games. The first to carry the torch was the Greek Stefanos Ntoukos, Olympic rowing champion in Tokyo 2020, along with him he also took an olive branch, a symbol of peace. The Greek walked a few meters until it was his turn to take the torch in the hands of Laure Manaudou, a French athlete who won the gold medal in swimming at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
“The Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition,” were the most notable words of the speech by Thomas Bach, president of the IOC. “They are making Olympic history,” added the German, who will be leading the entity that governs the destinies of the Olympic world until 2025 in relation to the task carried out by the organizing committee of the Games.
For his part, Tony Estanguet, visible face of Paris 2024, had words to convey about the symbolic valueand also the importance of the torch and the entire ceremony it carries with it for what will be the opening, the first day of the next Olympic Games: “The flame has the power to reach the greatest possible number of people, throughout the world.” territory,” said the former Olympic canoe slalom champion.
What is the next destination of the Olympic fire?
From now on, the flame will travel through Greece for a total of 11 days before traveling on the Belem sailboat, the one in charge of transporting the Olympic fire across the Mediterranean Sea to Marseille. It is estimated that its arrival will be on May 8, the day on which a torch relay is planned to be established that will have 68 stages and will also visit French Polynesia.
The coming July 26, the date that is marked on the calendar as the day where the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will be held, the Olympic torch will be making a visit through the streets of Saint-Denis, it will also pass through the Basilica of Saint-Denis (necropolis of numerous kings of France) and subsequently visit the district of Pleyel.
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