The Olympic torch was lit in Greece and began its journey to Paris

100 days after the start of Paris 2024now the Olympic torch in Greece, a ceremony that dates back to Antiquity and marks the beginning of the celebrations for the Olympic Games.

The ceremony took place in the sanctuary of Olympiain Greecein front of the ruins of the temple of Hera, where a woman dressed as a priestess lights the fire with a scaphiaan ancient artifact that concentrates the sun’s rays to bring fire to life.

Immediately afterwards, the fire was given along with a branch of olive trees to the first torch bearer, the Greek rower. Stefanos Duskosskiff champion at the Tokyo 2020 Games, who brought fire to the altar of Pierre Coubertinthe founder of the modern Olympic Games.

From there, the torch began a journey of 11 days and 5,000 km which will visit more than 40 cities in Greece with 600 carriers. The route will highlight the friendship between the Hellenic nation and France, and pass through emblematic sites such as the town of Pyloswhere the French and Greeks fought together for the freedom of the Hellenic nation, or Missolonghithe town that inspired the painter Eugène Delacroix to paint the painting The expiration of Greece in the ruins of Missolonghi.

The Greek route ends on April 26 at Panathenaic Stadium from Athens, where the torch will be handed over to the French Olympic Committee before traveling to France by sea aboard the Belema former French three-masted sailing ship.

On May 8 the Olympic torch will reach Marseilleswhere will begin a new 69-day journey through French territory that includes more than 400 towns and cities and will involve more than 10,000 carriersboth professional athletes and unknown citizens who will carry the torch in relays.

Each reliever will carry the torch for 200 meters and an estimated time of 4 minutes.

Finally, The torch will arrive in Paris on July 26 to light the cauldron at the Games’ opening ceremony, marking the official start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.