Athens delivered the Flame to Paris 2024

After her exciting journey Olympic Flame for 11 days on Greek soil and after receiving an enthusiastic reception everywhere, she handed herself over to her delegation “Paris 2024” Organizing Committee.

THE Delivery Ceremony was held on Friday afternoon (26/04) at Panathenaic Stadium with the Nana Moushuri to have a central role, while the presenter of the event was Nikos Aliagas.

The Olympic Light arrived at the Panathinaiko Stadium from the walking champion Antigone Drisbiotis with the last Torchbearer being the captain of the National polo team Yannis Fundoulis and his teammates, who conquered the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The National Anthems of Greece and France were performed by Nana Moushuri, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir of ERT. Also, the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT performed his work Dimitris Papadimitriou “Pindar’s Olympian”. The anthem was performed by the tenor Babis Velissarios.

At the end of the event, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Kapralos delivered the Olympic Torch to the president of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee Tony Estangeto continue his journey to Paris.

The vocal ensemble performed the Olympic Anthem “CHORES” accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT. The Artistic Direction of the Choir has been taken over by Marina Sattiwhile the Music Department, o Michalis Oikonomou.

The following took place events: The impressive cultural and sports event of Greece by the “Wolves Team | Gymnastics Club” (Choreography by Olympia Dragouni, with the participation of 60 dancers) and the French cultural-sports event “Danse des Jeux by Mourad Merzouki” with the participation of 150 students from the Greek-French School”.

The entire Olympic Flame Ceremony event

The entrance of Mary Mina and the Olympic Flame

The focal point for the Olympic Flame program was her entrance Prioress Mary MinasPriests and Kouros Immediately followed the entry of the Olympic Flame as well as the Torch Relay inside the Stadium.

Touching the Altar, choreography of Priests and Priests, Torch Handover

The last Olympic torchbearer and captain of the Polo team Ioannis Fundoulis lit the altar accompanied by the National Team

Followed by choreography of Priests and Priestswith the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dimitris Papadimitriou and the ERT Choir conducted by Michalis Papapetrou.

Subsequently, the Prioress Mary Mina proceeded to Afi Dada mrand then in its delivery to the president of the EOE, president of the European Olympic Committees and Member of the IOC, Mr. Spiro Kapralos.

At the end of the event, Mr. Kapralos handed over the Olympic Torch to the president of the “PARIS 2024” Organizing Committee Tony Estangeto continue his journey to Paris.

See photos from the Olympic Flame Ceremony

On Saturday (27/04) the journey to Marseille begins

The Olympic Flame will start tomorrow Saturday (27/4) from the port of Piraeus on her journey to Marseille with “Belem”.

“It’s a powerful symbolism. Sailing entered the water in 1896, the year of the revival of the modern Olympic Games. It has an eventful history, a seamanship course, a museum, “Belem” is an ambassador for France. And passing through historical areas it will reach Marseilles, a port city founded by the Phocaeans. It is a historical, symbolic and ecological route, if you consider that you will sail the Mediterranean using only sails» the French Minister of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games said in an interview, Amelie Udea-Kastera.

“It will arrive in Marseille after a 12-day journey, passing through the Corinth Canal, Sicily and other historical sites, with a crew of 15 Frenchmen and one Greek woman, Anastasia. Then the Olympic Flame will be in 350 cities in France, in six overseas territories, all the way to Polynesia, the longest route in history” he added.

Six thousand members of the forces of order will mobilize for the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille

Six thousand members of the forces of order will be deployed on May 8 to ensure the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseillethe Minister of the Interior said today Gerald Darmanen at a press conference.

Taking into account the force that will be mobilized by the Municipality of Marseille (Marseille’s fire brigade, security personnel, municipal police…) this size of the mechanism will surpass even that deployed in the second largest city of France in September 2023 for the visit of Pope Francis who was then described as “unusual” and “specialist”.

Clarifying that the Old Port of Marseille will be fully “impenetrable” and secured for the arrival of the blaze, which will arrive on the vessel Belem at around 19:45 (local time) on Wednesday, May 8, the Minister of the Interior specified that police officers of the special unit Raid (Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion), minesweepers, members of the naval units of the gendarmerie and anti-drones will be mobilized.

Regarding the entry of “Belem” into the Marseille parade on the day of May 8, Darmanen clarified that the thousand boats registered to accompany the famous sailing vessel everything will have been thoroughly checked.

Although for now there is “no identified threat” aimed at the arrival of the flame in the Mediterranean city, the minister clarified that the forces of order are working on various scenarios, mainly for “radical Islamism”.

“We will implement everything provided by the anti-terrorist legislation in order to monitor and prevent” any episode, Darmanen added, also speaking of dangers that may come from “the extreme right and the extreme left.”

Finally, in the case where the wind will exceed 25 knots and prevent the return of “Belem” to the Old Port, Darmanen assured that there is an “alternative”: “However, as the weather is always good in Marseille, I don’t imagine that there can be such a case”, he said.