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Ancient Olympia, Greece, April 16 (Xinhua) -- At the important moment of the 100-day countdown to the Paris Olympic Games, the flame of the Olympic Games was successfully collected at the ancient Olympia site in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic movement, on April 16 and the torch relay began.
On 16 April, actress Mary Mina, who played the role of High Priestess, took the flame. On the same day, the flame lighting ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was held at the ancient Olympia site in the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Jing
At 12:16 local time, in front of the ruins of the temple of Hera, which has a history of more than 2,500 years, an ancient Greek priestess played by Greek actress Marie Mina lit a fire after praying to Apollo, the god of light. Due to the cloudy nature of the scene, the ignition of the fire did not use the traditional concave mirror for ignition, but the previous spare fire.
"We are going through difficult times, and the risk of war and conflict has increased. In his speech at the event, IOC President Thomas Bach said, "In ancient times, even in times of war and conflict, the Olympic Games could unite the city-states of Greece. ”
"Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that can bring the world together for peaceful competition. Olympians have been and are sending a powerful message that we can compete peacefully under the same roof. Bach said.
After the ceremony, the priestess passed the lit torch and an olive branch as a symbol of peace and glory to the first torchbearer, Greek athlete and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist in men's rowing, Stefanos.
Stefanos ran from the stadium to the monument to Coubertin, the "father of the modern Olympic Games", before passing the flame to the second torchbearer, three-time Olympic swimming medallist from France and captain of the Paris Olympic torch relay, Manodo.
The Olympic flame, a symbol of light, unity, friendship, peace and justice, will take place in Greece for 11 days, covering a distance of about 5,000 kilometres, passing through dozens of cities and cultural sites, with the participation of around 600 torchbearers.
The Olympic flame is scheduled to arrive at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, where the first modern Olympic Games were held, on 26 April, and be handed over to the Paris Organising Committee. On 27 April, the flame will sail from the Greek port of Piraeus to France aboard the famous Berham three-masted ship, and will arrive in the French port of Marseille on 8 May to begin the torch relay in France. More than 150,000 spectators are expected to welcome the Olympic flame in Marseille.
Finally, the Olympic flame will be lit in Paris on 26 July, the opening day of the Games.
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On April 16, actress Mary Mina, who plays the role of the High Priestess, holds out the tinder jar during the ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Jing
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On April 16, actress Mary Mina, who plays the role of the High Priestess, lights the torch. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe
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On April 16, the actor playing the priestess releases the doves during the ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe
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High Priestess actress Mary Mina (front right) lights the torch in the hands of the first torchbearer, Greek athlete and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist in men's rowing, Stefanos Ntuscos, on 16 April. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe
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On 16 April, the first torchbearer, Greek athlete and gold medallist in the men's rowing event at the Tokyo Olympics, Stefanos Ntuskos, carried the torch in his hand. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe
pagebreak On 16 April, the first torchbearer, Greek athlete and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist in men's rowing, Stefanos Ntuscos (front left), received the olive branch from actress Mary Mina, who played the role of High Priestess. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe
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Actress Mary Mina, center, who plays the role of the High Priestess, holds a tinder jar during a ceremony on April 16. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe