The Olympic flame for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 burst into life today (Tuesday, 16 April) during a special ceremony at the archaeological site of Olympia—the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games.
During a ritual that links the modern Olympic Games to its ancient origins, the Olympic flame was lit in front of the ruins of the temple of Hera by an actress playing the part of the high priestess.
Several important dignitaries including IOC President Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet were in attendance for the event, which marked the start of the flame's journey from Greece to Paris, where it will arrive on 26 July for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Before the lighting of the Olympic flame took place, president Estanguet spoke of Paris 2024's responsibility to nurture the Olympic flame:
"Our role as organisers is to do everything we can to continue to nurture and grow this flame, in our country and around the world. One hundred years after the last summer Games in our country, the people of France will have the immense honour and pleasure of hosting this magnificent 33rd Olympiad of the modern Games."
President Estanguet, who won three Olympic gold medals in canoe slalom, added:
"In line with the International Olympic Committee's Agenda 2020, we are proud that the Paris 2024 Games will not only be spectacular, but also more environmentally responsible, in order to meet the challenge of the century: climate change.
"Together, we're going to organise some great Games, and it all starts today, with the launch of the Olympic Torch Relay, which will cross the whole of France, from Marseille to Paris!"
President Bach then took to the stage to deliver his speech, where he stressed that the Olympic Games can bring the world together through peaceful competition.
"In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even – and in particular – during times of wars and conflict. Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes send this powerful message: yes, it is possible to compete fiercely against each other and at the same time live peacefully together under one roof. The athletes will shine in their sport and show us what greatness humans are capable of with all their excellence, determination and resilience.
"The Olympic flame that we are lighting today symbolises this hope for a better future. The Olympic flame will carry this Olympic spirit from here, our ancient roots, through all of France and to Paris – making the City of Light shine even brighter.
"The Olympic flame will shine over the first Olympic Games inspired by our Olympic Agenda reforms from start to finish. These Olympic Games will be younger, more inclusive, more urban, more sustainable. These will be the very first Olympic Games with full gender parity because the IOC allocated exactly 50 per cent of the quota places to female and male athletes."
The Olympic flame was then brought forward by Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of High Priestess, who passed it to the first torchbearer of the Olympic Torch Relay: Greek athlete Stefanos Ntouskos, who won gold in the men's single sculls at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
After receiving the flame, Ntouskos carried the flame to the monument to Pierre de Coubertin, which holds the heart of the father of the modern Olympic movement.
Ntouskos then passed the flame to the second torchbearer of the relay, three-time Olympic medallist Laure Manaudou of France.
After a short run, Manaudou was met by the third torchbearer of the ceremony: Margaritis Schinas, vice-president of the European Commission.
The Olympic flame will now embark upon an 11-day relay throughout Greece that will see more than 550 torchbearers carry the flame, with the final destination being the Panathenaic Stadium for the handover ceremony.
When is the Olympic flame handover ceremony?
The Olympic flame will arrive in Athens ahead of the handover ceremony to the Paris 2024 organising committee at the Panathenaic Stadium on Friday 26 April, with the event getting underway at 18:30 CEST.
Following the ceremony, the Olympic flame will spend the night at the French Embassy in Athens before boarding the Belem (a famous three-masted ship that first launched in 1896) the following day to head for Marseille, France, where it will arrive to great fanfare on 8 May.
Where can I watch the Olympic flame handover ceremony?
The Olympic flame handover ceremony will take place on 26 April at 18:30 CEST and you can watch every moment live on Olympics.com.
