Paris Olympics flame to be lit with elan at Greek cradle of ancient games
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — One way or another, the flame that’s to burn at the Paris Olympics will be kindled Tuesday at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece.
Forecast cloudy skies could frustrate efforts to produce the flame in the customary fashion, when an actress dressed as an ancient Greek priestess uses the sun to ignite a silver torch.
If that doesn’t work, French organizers will get their flame from a backup that was successfully lit at a final rehearsal Monday.
In an elaborately choreographed ceremony first used in 1936, the foremost of a group of priestesses in long, pleated dresses offers a prayer to the ancient Greek sun god, Apollo. She then dips the fuel-filled torch into a parabolic mirror which focuses the sun’s rays on it, and fire spurts forth.
From the ancient stadium in Olympia, a relay of torchbearers will carry the flame more than 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) through Greece until the handover to Paris Games organizers in Athens on April 26.
Related articles
Flight attendant reveals why plane passengers should NEVER fall asleep before take off
An experienced fight attendant has revealed why plane passengers should never fall asleep before tak2024-05-21Bangladesh fire: At least 43 dead in Dhaka building blaze
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a commercial building that killed at least 43 people in Dh2024-05-21The US and UK restrict the trade of Russian
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and U.K. will begin restricting the trade of new Russian-origin metals —2024-05-21US border arrests fall in March, bucking seasonal trends amid increased enforcement in Mexico
WASHINGTON (AP) — Arrests for crossing the U.S. border illegally fell slightly in March, authorities2024-05-21'Real life' Martha from Baby Reindeer's million
'Real-life' Baby Reindeer stalker Fiona Harvey today vowed legal action against 'all those who have2024-05-21Where is the Princess of Wales? The internet knows
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, at King Charles' coronation in May 2023. Photo: ODD ANDERSEN / AFP2024-05-21
atest comment