Olympic flame for Paris 2024 Summer Games lit in Ancient Olympia-Xinhua
Olympic flame for Paris 2024 Summer Games lit in Ancient Olympia
Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2024-04-16 21:43:01
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, April 16, 2024 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic flame that will be burning for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games started its journey after being ignited at the birthplace of the Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece on Tuesday during a traditional ceremony.
Actress Mary Mina, in the role of High Priestess, lights the torch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Actress Mary Mina, in the role of an ancient Greek High Priestess, lit the torch using a backup flame instead of a concave mirror due to cloudy skies before the 2,500-year-old Temple of Hera, a goddess in ancient Greek mythology.
Greek actress Mary Mina, in the role of High Priestess, lights the torch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)Greek actress Mary Mina (front), in the role of High Priestess, performs during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)Greek actress Mary Mina (front), in the role of High Priestess, carries the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)Greek actress Mary Mina, in the role of High Priestess, shows the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)Greek actress Mary Mina (front), in the role of High Priestess, shows the torch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)Greek actress Mary Mina (R), in the role of High Priestess, lights the flame during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Following a dance performance by the artists inspired by ancient Greek statues on the slope of the stadium, the High Priestess kindled the first Olympic torch for the Games and passed it to the first torchbearer, Greek rowing gold medalist Stefanos Ntouskos, along with an olive branch.
Actresses perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)Actresses perform during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)Greek actress Mary Mina (front R), in the role of the High Priestess, passes the flame to the first torch bearer, Greek rowing Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos (front L) during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)The first torch bearer, Greek rowing Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos, runs with the Olympic torch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
In parallel, a dancer released a white pigeon to spread the Olympic ideals of friendship and peace to the world as the flame's journey started.
An actress playing the role of an ancient priestess releases a dove during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Member of the International Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach delivers a speech during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou (2nd L), President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach (3rd L) and President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Member of the International Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos (1st L) are seen ahead of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
