Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony for Paris 2024 Scheduled in Athens

Key Details of the Ceremony and the Journey of the Olympic Flame

The Olympic flame, ignited in Olympia and having traveled across Greece, will be handed over to Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024, by Spyros Capralos, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. This significant event is set to take place at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on Friday, April 26. The ceremony will pay homage to the historical ties between Greece and France and the legacy of the modern Olympic Games initiated by Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

Ceremony Schedule and Participants

The handover ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time in Greece (5:30 p.m. in France). The flame will enter the stadium at 5:57 p.m., carried by four porters including Olympic ice dancing champion Gabriella Papadakis and former Paralympic swimmer Béatrice Hess. The last torchbearer on Greek soil will be Yannis Fountoulis, captain of the Greek water polo team, who will light the cauldron at the stadium.

Final Night in Greece and Journey to France

After the ceremony, the flame will spend its final night on Greek soil at the French Embassy. The following morning, Tony Estanguet will transport the flame to the sailing ship Bélem, which departs from Piraeus at 10 a.m. and is expected to arrive in Marseille on May 8, marking a 12-day voyage.

Arrival Celebrations in Marseille

Upon arrival in Marseille, a grand celebration is anticipated at the old Port, featuring a parade and a special docking ceremony along a seafront athletics track, anticipated to attract around 150,000 spectators.

Contenders for the French Flag Bearer at the 2024 Olympics

The selection of the French delegation's standard bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics remains a topic of interest. Basketball player Rudy Gobert has expressed his desire to carry the flag, highlighting his dedication to the French team and previous Olympic experiences. Other athletes in contention include Sandrine Gruda, Joris Daudet, Florent Manaudou, Kevin Mayer, and Estelle Mossely, with notable exclusions due to past roles.