Olympic Games - Paris 2024: The Olympic Flame to be lit at Ancient Olympia

After two editions of the Olympic Games that have lost their great 'glow' due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, namely the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021 and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, the traditional ceremony at the cradle of Olympism will regain all its colors with a live audience.

The Lighting of the Olympic flame traditionally takes place in Ancient Olympia and is carried out by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. Its history begins in 1936, on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Berlin. With the help of a concave mirror and as the ritual defines, the Lighting is performed by the High Priestess in the Temple of Hera (Heraion), in the archaeological site of Olympia. There, the priestess asks the help of the sun god Apollo to light the torch as she makes the invocation.

The first Lighting of the Olympic Flame in Ancient Olympia took place on July 20, 1936 for the Berlin Olympic Games with the then High Priestess Koula Pratsika, who is considered a pioneer of classical dance in Greece and was the first choreographer of the lighting ceremony.

Programme of the lighting ceremony of the Olympic Flame

The Olympic flame will be lit on April 16, 2024 in the Holy Land of Ancient Olympia to begin its journey to the French capital for the “Paris 2024” Olympic Games.

The lighting ceremony will begin at 11.30 a.m. in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and admission is open to the public.

The Olympic flame will be carried by the priestess Mary Mina in a choreography inspired and directed by the choreographer Artemis Ignatiou to music composed by Dimitris Papadimitriou and performed by 35 priestesses and 15 kouroi. The costumes for the performers were created by the internationally renowned designer Mary Katrantzou.

The Olympic anthem will be sung by the successful mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and the master of ceremonies will be the renowned journalist Nikos Aliagas.

The Olympic flame will be handed over to gold medalist Stefanos Douskos by priestess Mary Mina to begin the torch relay on Greek soil, which will last for 11 days until April 26.

The lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame, organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, will be attended by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Bach, the President of the Olympic Games Organization and the President of the European Parliament. The President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Bach, the President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee,” Tony Estanguet, the French Minister of Sport, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greek origin, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, will be welcomed by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the President of the European Olympic Committees and IOC member Spyros Capralos.

The President of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, Thanasis Vasiliadis, is responsible for the Olympic Flame Ceremony and the Chief Director of Ceremonies is Yiannis Papadimitriou.

The Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame will be open to the public

No prior reservation is required and there is no entrance fee to attend.The area reserved for the public is located on the grassy slopes surrounding the stadium and is accessible on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Handover Ceremony of the Olympic Flame will take place in Panathenaic Stadium on the 26th of April

The handover cermony will be open to the public. No prior reservation is required and there is no entrance fee to attend. Public will access the stadium from a dedicated entrance and seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.