Paris 2024: At Olympia, the fire ceremony will be transformed into a platform for peace

Nestled in the heart of the green Elis region of the Peloponnese, the 2,600-year-old ancient sanctuary stadium of Olympia was transformed into a platform for peace on Tuesday 16 April. In the cloudy weather and suffocating heat, it was not possible to light the fire using the sun’s rays, as the ancient tradition dictates. Fortunately, as a precaution, the Olympic Committee is holding a dress rehearsal again to avoid igniting the flames.

101 days before the opening ceremony in Paris, the “high priest” was thus able to hand out the first torch bearer to the Greek Stefanos Ntouskos, the Olympic rowing champion in Tokyo 2021. Before handing over the sacred fire to the athlete, he appealed to Apollo, the god of the sun and light: “Offer peace to all peoples and laurel wreaths to the victors of the games”Then the pigeon was released.

In front of several thousand spectators and guests, incl The President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and the Mayor of Paris, Anna Hidalgo, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, recalled the message of hope conveyed by the Olympic flame, despite the global environment, which is particularly characterized by war. Ukraine and Israel-Hamas war. Considering “ The world is tired of conflicts Mr. Bach added “We all want that which brings us back together, that which unites us, that which gives us hope.”

Aristides Panagiotopoulos, The mayor of Old Olympia, a village of about 700 people that sees up to 10,000 visitors a day at peak season, confirmed that “ The Olympic spirit was alive and well.. “With this flame, the universal message of peace and brotherhood will be passed between peoples. We owe it to the world, we are, here in Olympia, the guardians of the Olympic values.he added.

“Connected to our history, philosophy, values”

he asked the worldGreek Sports Minister Ioannis Vroutsis insisted “The pride of the Greeks that the Olympic flame was born here in Olympia 2,800 years ago.” “Olympic Games is the biggest social event in the world. Every four years, Olympism conveys the values ​​of peace, brotherhood, solidarity, and it all started here. “, he wanted to emphasize.

Stefanos Ntouskos, the first bearer of the Olympic torch, who handed it to Lore Manaudou, who won his first Olympic title in the 400m freestyle at the Athens Olympics in 2004, said: Very proud and honored” to be selected for this role. “It is very symbolic for me to be the first to carry this message of peace and brotherhood”he said.