Paris Olympics 2024: Anticipation builds for lighting of Olympic flame
Chandigarh, July 24
As the world gears up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the anticipation builds for the iconic moment that marks the beginning of the games: the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
This year, the torch relay tradition rooted in ancient Greek mythology, will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
Origin of the Olympic flame
The tradition of the Olympic flame traces back to ancient Greece, specifically to a temple dedicated to Hera in Olympia. The first recorded Olympic Games were held here in 776 BC. The ancient Greeks used a skaphia, a type of crucible, to kindle the flame by concentrating the sun’s rays to ignite dry grass. Today, this ancient method is replicated using a parabolic mirror.
A high priestess, assisted by vestals, kindles the flame in a ceremony where only they are allowed in the sanctuary area. The flame is then brought to the site of the public ceremony and handed to the first torchbearer.
The modern torch relay tradition began at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, where a flame was kept burning at the entrance to the Olympic Stadium throughout the event. This concept captured the public’s imagination and became a staple of the Opening Ceremony. The first official torch relay took place in 1936 from Olympia to Berlin. The relay was conceived by Carl Diem of Germany, inspired by ancient Greek drawings and Plutarch’s writings.
Torch relay 2024
The torch relay for the 2024 Paris Olympics began in France in May, travelling through major parts of the country over 65 stages. American rapper Snoop Dogg is slated to be the final torchbearer, carrying the flame through the streets of Saint-Denis, home to the Stade de France Olympic Stadium. The relay will conclude at the Eiffel Tower.
The individual who will light the Olympic cauldron is traditionally revealed at the last moment. Paris 2024 organising committee president Tony Estanguet said on Sunday that the person selected to light the cauldron on July 26 has not yet been informed. Contenders include Zinedine Zidane, Marie-Jose Perec, Omar Sy, Thomas Pesquet and survivors from the 2015 attacks.
