What to know about the flame-lighting ceremony in Greece for the Paris Olympics

(15 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ancient Olympia, Greece - 14 April 2024
1. Various of performers of Olympic flame lighting ceremony walking through archaeological site
2. Close of flowered tree seen through columns
3. Various of dancers playing role of priestesses preparing for Olympic flame lighting during dress rehearsal at ruins of Temple of Hera
4. Various of actress Mary Mina playing the role of high priestess asking the ancient Greek god Apollo to help light torch for Paris Olympics
5. Close of concave mirror
6. Various of head priestess practicing holding torch in concave mirror for lighting
7. Close of torch simulating lighting small vessel
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Paphitis, The Associated Press:
"We're in ancient Olympia, and behind us is the Temple of Hera, where on Tuesday the flame will be lit for the Paris Olympic Games. It's done in a very complicated way. You don't just use a lighter or something. They use a metal mirror, which focuses the sun's rays and it's a very sunny day -- so hopefully it will be on Tuesday, too -- focuses the sun's rays on a torch, the torch lights, and there you are."
9. Wide of dancers playing priestesses, walking in procession with torch during rehearsal
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Paphitis, The Associated Press:
"They could do it in a more simple way, but the idea is to show the link between the ancient games, which happened here -- they started here 2800 years ago -- and the modern games, which were recreated at the end of the 19th century."
11. Various of priestesses walking toward ancient stadium
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Paphitis, The Associated Press:
"This used to be holy ground where normally I wouldn't have been allowed because I'm not completely Greek, and it was only for Greek male free citizens to come here and watch the games and take part in the games. And they were held in the honour of Zeus, the king of the ancient Greek gods, whose main temple was over that way. And, they were held every four years. It was considered the most important religious and sporting event in ancient Greece, out of quite a few festivals."
13. Various of people entering stadium
14. Wide of stadium
15. Close of starting line in stadium
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Paphitis, The Associated Press:
"If you won an Olympic victory, you were treated as a major hero back in your home city. And at that time, Greece was a mass of warring city states. And, you usually ended up very rich. However, in theory, all you won for your victory was a crown made of olive branches, and you had the right to erect a statue in your name."
17. Wide of monument dedicated to Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games
18. Close of lettering on monument reading (Greek/French): “Here rests the heart of Baron Pierre de Coubertin”
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Paphitis, The Associated Press:
"The driving force behind the modern Olympic Games was a Frenchman, the Baron Pierre de Coubertin. And in his honour, this monument was set up in 1927. It's just a few hundred metres from the ancient site. And later, when Coubertin died, he had directed that while his body should be buried in Switzerland, where he died, his heart should be removed and brought here. And it was inserted in the base of this monument."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Berlin, Germany - 1 August 1936
20. STILL of Olympic flame carried by torch bearer from Olympiastadion in Berlin en route to stadium in Gruenau for opening of Olympic Rowing and Canoeing events on Regatta course
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Strefi, Greece - 20 July 1948
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[@mycroft16]

And this has what exactly to do with lighting the Olympic flame?! Are you people capable of keeping your religion out of anything? Believe what you want but holy God stop shoving it in everyones' faces at every single chance. And I say this as a Christian.

[@fainamorozov8818]

This is Idolatry!!!

[@mycroft16]

No, it is history. Please grow up.

[@HughJason]

Embarrassing.

[@mycroft16]

Why exactly are you embarrassed by this? It is a beautiful ceremony literally going back millennia honoring the original Olympic games and the symbolism of the Olympic flame.