https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/68091759
On April 27, the flame will begin its journey to France aboard the 19th-century three-masted sailing ship Belem, which was launched just weeks after the start of the 1896 Games in Athens. The fire is expected to be delivered to Marseille on May 8. Ten thousand torchbearers will then carry the flame across 64 French territories. The French torch relay will last 68 days and will end in Paris with the lighting of the Olympic flame on July 26.
There are almost 100 days left until the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The Olympic Games will be held in France from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
The ceremony of lighting the fire was performed by actresses dressed in white robes, portraying priestesses. It was cloudy in Olympia on Tuesday, so the torch was lit from fire generated by the sun's rays during Monday's dress rehearsal.
“In ancient times, the Olympic Games united the Greek city-states, even—and especially—in times of war and conflict,” said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The ceremony was attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. The first torchbearer of the Olympic flame in Greece was the champion of the Tokyo Games in rowing Stefanos Douskos, the second was the French swimmer, 2004 Olympic champion in the 400 m freestyle, three-time world champion Laure Manodou, the third was the Deputy President of the European Commission for the Protection of the European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas.
The opening ceremony of the Games is planned to be held on the Seine River - the first time it will not be held at the main stadium. However, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that if there was a security threat, the ceremony could be moved to the national stadium.
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