International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and other senior IOC officials called for world peace on Tuesday during the flame ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Ancient Olympia, Greece. The Olympic Flame that will burn for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games began its journey after being lit during a traditional lighting ceremony on Tuesday at the birthplace of the Games in ancient Olympia.
Actress Mary Mina, in the role of an ancient Greek high priestess, lit the torch at 12:16 p.m. (local time) in front of the 2,500-year-old temple of Hera, a goddess from ancient Greek mythology. She prayed to the gods to bring peace to the world and help the French city host a successful Games, Xinhua reported.
“Apollo, God of the Sun and the idea of Light, send forth your rays and light the sacred torch for the hospitable city of Paris, and you Zeus, grant peace to all the peoples of the earth and crown the winners of the Sacred Race,” she said. said.
Due to the cloudy sky, she used a backup flame instead of a concave mirror to light the torch. 'In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city-states, even – and especially – in times of wars and conflicts. Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the whole world together in peaceful competition.
“Then, as now, the Olympic athletes send out this powerful message: yes, it is possible to compete fiercely against each other and at the same time live together peacefully under one roof,” Bach said before the ritual of lighting the flame .
Spyros Capralos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and member of the IOC, also delivered a strong anti-war message in his speech. “We urge all countries to reach a ceasefire,” he said.
“From here we send an authentic message of world peace. We call on all warring parties to respect the Holy Light and the (Olympic) truce,” said Mayor of Ancient Olympia Aristidis Panagiotopoulos.
The Olympic Truce is a tradition originating from ancient Greece and dates back to 776 BC. Before and during the Olympic Games, a “truce” was announced to ensure that the host city-state (Elis) was not attacked and that athletes and spectators could travel safely to the Games and return peacefully to their respective countries.
In 1992, the IOC renewed this tradition by calling on all countries to observe the truce during the modern Games. The truce was revived by United Nations Resolution 48/11 of October 25, 1993, as well as by the United Nations Millennium Declaration on World Peace and Security.
“The Olympic Flame spreads the eternal values of peace and solidarity,” Tony Estanguet, president of the Organizing Committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said in a speech.
During Tuesday's ceremony, the High Priestess lit the first Olympic torch of the Games and passed it, along with an olive branch, to the first torchbearer, Greek gold rowing medalist Stefanos Ntouskos. At the same time, a dancer released a white dove to spread the Olympic ideals of friendship and peace around the world as the flame's journey began.
“We wish for an Olympic Truce and the reign of peace throughout the world,” Artemis Ignatiou, the choreographer of the lighting and handover ceremonies, told Xinhua.
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