Paris organizers take delivery of Olympic flame at Greek venue of first modern Games
Time:2024-05-09 08:14:09 Source:politicsViews(143)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Paris Oympics flame was formally handed to French organizers on Friday in the all-marble stadium where the first modern Games were held in Athens in 1896.
Greek water polo player Ioannis Fountoulis, the last in a long line of torchbearers, used the flame to light a cauldron at the Panathenaic Stadium. From there, it was delivered to Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet.
A few moments of suspense followed as assistants struggled to light the lantern that will carry the flame to France.
“It wants to stay in Greece,” Estanguet joked.
Safely in the lantern, the flame will depart for France on Saturday on a 19th century sailing ship across the Mediterranean Sea, to make landfall 12 days later in the southern port city of Marseille.
The flame was kindled on April 16 at Olympia in southern Greece, where the ancient games were held for more than 1,000 years from about 776 B.C. to A.D. 393.
Previous:Head and Sharma's electrifying opening stand earns Hyderabad 10
Next:Prada focuses generational transition on artisans, expanding production and workforce in Italy
You may also like
- Tiger Woods to feature at PGA Championship along with 16 LIV golfers
- Book of Xi's Discourses on Chinese Modernization Published
- Colorful lights and lanterns light up to celebrate upcoming Lunar New Year in Singapore
- AI begins to feature prominently in 2024 Hurun Global Rich List: report
- Former Las Vegas casino executive to be sentenced in bookmaking money laundering case
- Xi to Travel to U.S. for China
- International hot air balloons festival opens in Gansu
- Stock market mulls future as IPOs slow
- Keith Urban is back in Sin City! Country singer announces third Las Vegas residency after 2021 show