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Just three months before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024, the Games chief organizer Tony Estanguet received the Olympic flame in a handover ceremony hosted by the Hellenic Olympic Committee at Athens' iconic Panathenaic Stadium. It is the same venue where the first modern Games were held in 1896.
Renowned 89-year-old Greek singer Nana Mouskouri delivered a notable performance of the anthems of France and Greece at the handover ceremony.
In his speech, Tony Estanguet said Paris aspires to host only spectacular but also more socially responsible Games, ones that would contribute to building a more inclusive society.
He emphasized the organizers are committed to ensuring that this global event plays a pivotal role in addressing the pressing issues of the era. A member of France’s Athens 2004 Olympics team that clinched gold in the Slalom Canoe event, Estanguet underscored the importance of this endeavor.
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Notably, during the final leg of the relay into the Panathenaic Stadium, the flame was carried by the French duo Gabriella Papadakis, the gold medallist in ice dance at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, and Beatrice Hess, former paralympic swimmer and one of the most decorated Paralympians.
The Olympic flame will embark on its journey to France ahead of Paris Olympics 2024
It’s important to note that, following an overnight stay at the French embassy in Athens, the flame will move to France on the 19th-century three-masted barque Belem on April 27, Saturday.
On April 28, Sunday, the ship will move to the Corinth Canal. On May 8, the flame will arrive in Marseille, a port city in southern France founded by ancient Greek colonists circa 600 BCE.
In Marseille, the torch relay will commence with French swimmer Florent Manaudou as its first bearer. Interestingly, over 10,000 torchbearers will carry the flame across 64 French territories. The grand finale of this journey will unfold on July 26 when the flame takes center stage at the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony.
Importantly, during its 11-day relay in Greece, approximately 600 torchbearers covered a distance exceeding 5000 km passing through more than 50 towns and cities.
The Paris Olympics 2024 are slated to take place between July 26 to August 11.
