The official rehearsal of the lighting ceremony of the Olympic Flame in Ancient Olympia was completed with absolute success. one day before the Olympic Torch begins its journey to Paris.
The rehearsal, as usual, took place in the presence of an audience, with the spectators applauding the moment the Flame was born traditionally from the rays of the Sun in the Temple of Hera and in the hands of the High Priestess Mary Mina.
This was followed by the Dance of the Priests and the Priests in the choreography created and directed by the Choreographer Artemis Ignatiou, with costumes by Mary Katrantzou, to the sounds of the music of the composer Dimitris Papadimitriou.
The first Torchbearer is the Olympian Stefanos Duskos and the presenter of the event is Nikos Aliagas. The second Torchbearer will be the French Olympian Laure Manaudou and the third, the European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas.
The Ceremony of Touching the Olympic Flame will take place on Tuesday, April 16, at 11.30 in the presence of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, with free entry for the public.
The President of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, Thanasis Vassiliadis, is responsible for the Touching Ceremony and the Master of Ceremonies is Yiannis Papadimitriou.
The program
11:00
Official attendance pass
Presidential Guard Entrance
Arrival of S.A. of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou
11:30
Opening Ceremony
Formation of Olympic circles by students of the Municipality of Ancient Olympia
Olympic Anthem – Hoisting of the Olympic Flag
(The Olympic Anthem is performed by Mezzo – Soprano Joyce DiDonato)
National Anthem of France – Hoisting of the French Flag
National Anthem of Greece – Raising the Flag of Greece
(The National Anthems are performed by the children’s choir of the Saint-Paul & Pedagogy – Birds schools)
Greetings from the Mayor of Ancient Olympia, Mr. Aristidis Panagiotopoulos
Greeting from the President of the Organizing Committee of the “Paris 2024” Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mr. Tony Estanguet
Greeting from the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach
Greeting from the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, President of the European Olympics
of Committees and Member of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Spyros Kapralos
Official entrance to the Temple of Hera
Ritual of Touching the Olympic Flame in the Temple of Hera
Choreography of Priests and Churches (The recording of the music of the composer Dimitris Papadimitriou, was performed on ERT by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michalis Oikonomou, Interpretation: Treble player Myrsini Margaritis)
Entrance of Primate Mary Minas with the Olympic Flame in the Ancient Stadium
Delivery of the Olympic Flame from the Protheir to the first Torchbearer, Gold
Rowing Olympian, Stefano Dusko
Departure of the first Torch Relay for the Pierre de Coubertin Monument
12:30
Start of the Olympic Torch Relay
Withdrawal of S.A. of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou
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