Watch again: Olympic Flame lighting ceremony takes place in Olympia ahead of Paris 2024
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Watch again as the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony was held in Olympia ahead of Paris 2024 on Tuesday (16 April).
The ceremony, held on the ancient site of Olympia, was open to the public and televised around the world.
Up to 30 priestesses or ‘Caryatids Korres’ perfromed a series of rituals, calling on the sun god Apollo to ignite the Olympic flame using the rays of the sun and a parabolic mirror.
The fire will stay lit for the entirety of the Olympic Games period. It symbolises purity and represents the values of the Olympics between nations.
Speeches were made by officials from the various Olympic committees.
Around 500 torchbearers will now carry the Olympic flame on a 2,000 kilometre odyssey around Greece, before reaching the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896, on 26 April.
Greek Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos will be the first torchbearer in the relay that will travel from Olympia to Paris for next year’s Games.
It will arrive in France on 8 May, just over two-and-a-half months before the start of the Games in Paris on 26 July when it will be used to light the Olympic flame.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments