The Olympic Flame in Santorini
Santorini was the first stop for the Olympic Flame on its journey through the Cyclades islands today, Friday 19/4. On the 4th day of its route across Greece, the Sacred Light of Olympism arrived in Santorini early in the morning by Hellenic Air Force boat, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Sports Yannis Vroutsis, Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Kapralos and Olympic Torch Relay Committee President Thanassis Vasiliadis.
The relay began from Agios Gerasimos Square in Fira, with the first torchbearer being Cyclades MP Katerina Monogyiou. It continued along the caldera with Dimitris Georgiou (6th Olympian), Christiana Fousteri (Taekwondo champion), Anna Xagorari (gymnast-coach) and Stelios Drosos (athlete), with the latter lighting the cauldron in front of the Metropolis in Fira, where a large crowd had gathered.
This was followed by the ceremony with the playing of the Olympic Anthem and the national anthems of France and Greece, greetings from the Mayor of Thera Nikos Zorzos and representatives of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the organizing committee of the “Paris 2024” Olympic Games, as well as a short cultural program.
With the last torchbearer being Muay Thai coach Artemis Karamolegkos, the Flame was handed over to the Hellenic Olympic Committee to continue its journey to Naxos and Paros, sending messages of peace, friendship and solidarity in all directions.
Source: https://atlantea.news/i_olympiaki_floga_sti-santorini/
General information about the lighting of the flame
The ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic Flame for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris took place in Ancient Olympia on March 8, 2024, in accordance with tradition.
Here are some details about the event:
Date: March 8, 2024 Location: Ancient Olympia, Greece Official: Actress Maria Vassilakou, as a priestess, lit the flame with the rays of the sun using a parabolic mirror. First torchbearer: Olympic sailing champion Pavlos Konstantopoulos had the honor of receiving the flame.
The Olympic Flame then traveled across Greece in an 11-day relay, covering 5,202 kilometers in the hands of 600 torchbearers.
On April 26, 2024, the flame was handed over to France in a ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.
The flame will then embark on an 86-day journey through France before arriving in Paris for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26, 2024.
Sources:
- Hellenic Olympic Committee: https://www.thes.gr/gegonota/olybiakoi-agones-to-programma-tis-olybiakis-labadidromias-stin-ellada/
- SNFCC: https://www.snfcc.org/OlympicTorchRelay
Historical information about the Olympic Flame and the relay
The Olympic Flame and the relay are symbols with a rich history and deep significance, inextricably linked to the Olympic Movement.
Ancient Greece:
- Although the lighting ceremony and the relay in their present form did not exist in the ancient Olympic Games, sacred flames were lit in Olympia in honor of the gods.
- The most famous of these was the flame of Hera, which was kept burning throughout the games in the temple of Hera.
- Flames were also used in relays in honor of other deities in various parts of Greece.
Modern era:
- The modern Olympic Flame first appeared at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
- The idea of the relay was established at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, inspired by the relays of the ancient Greeks.
- Since then, the Olympic Flame has traveled from Ancient Olympia to the host city of each Olympiad, carrying the message of peace, friendship and sporting excellence.
Significant events:
- 1956: The Olympic Flame travels outside Europe for the first time, to the Melbourne Olympics.
- 1976: The Olympic Flame travels by plane for the first time, to the Montreal Olympics.
- 1992: The Olympic Flame travels underwater for the first time, to the Barcelona Olympics.
- 2004: The Olympic Flame returns to Greece for the Athens Olympics, 108 years after the first modern Games.
Symbolism:
Table of Contents
The Olympic Flame symbolizes:
- The spirit of Olympism: Peace, friendship, fair play, sporting excellence.
- The heritage of Ancient Greece: Connection to the ancient Olympic Games and their values.
- The unity of the World: The flame unites people from all nations and cultures.
The Olympic Flame and relay stand as integral elements of the Olympic Movement, bringing a message of hope, inspiration, and optimism to the world.
Sources:
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