Torches are pictured during the torch kiss event, after the relay on public road was cancelled due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, during Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay celebration in Sammu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Not only athletes, but the Olympic torch itself is en route to the 2024 Paris Olympics! Right from 1896 onwards, when women were given a statutory ban on handling the Olympic torch cut to 1968, when things took a turn for the best wherein Enriqueta Basilio shattered all norms, there’s been a tectonic shift. She conversely became the first woman to shatter the 72-year moratorium on women not taking part in Olympic ceremonies.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that right now, Greek actress Mary Mina unfurled the garish glory of the flame on the 16th of April, a paradigm shift of sorts. The next stage of its odyssey typically involves a torch marathon, traversing France and its islands until it arrives in the French capital on July 26th for the opening ceremony of the games. Its Olympic voyage from Athens to Paris seems to be a really poetically inspiring journey. But the question remains? Does the flame travel light? If so, by what means?
How will be Olympic flame be jostled to Paris 2024? What fireproof tactic is used?
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Transporting a torch by land from Athens to France would be impractical, so it is usually carried to the host city by athletes and other means of transportation. In 2008, the torch traveled via Air China to Beijing; in 2012, British Airways carried it to London; and in 2016, LATAM flew the flame to Rio.
via Reuters A torch relay runner receives torch flame during a torch kiss event, after their relay on a public road was cancelled due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, during Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay celebration at Hasunuma Seaside Park in Sammu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato
However, this year’s journey takes a unique turn as the torch sets sail across the Mediterranean Sea, cradled by the billowing sails of a three-masted sailboat bound for the shores of Marseille on May 8th. Upon arrival, the torch will ignite the uninterrupted extravaganza and keep the tradition burning resplendently for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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The official opening of the Olympic Games will be marked by the igniting of the cauldron by a torchbearer. After two weeks of sporting achievements and festivities across the French capital, the flame will be extinguished. Yet, it will be reignited in Stoke Mandeville and carried by 1,000 torchbearers as part of the relay to mark the opening of the Paralympic Games on August 28th.
Once extinguished after the Paralympics, it will remain a symbol of the 2024 Paris Olympics in historical records. But how will the flame endure throughout the journey without being extinguished?
Olympic torch: a paragon of equality and passion for sports
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As a renowned symbol of the Games, the torch is a piece of art designed to reflect the significance of the Olympic Games. To fulfill this responsibility, the 2024 Paris Olympics opted to collaborate with French designer Mathieu Lehanneur. His task was to design a torch that would never perish during its journey.
Thus, he devised a special design crafted to withstand the elements. This year, the torch will be fueled by gas, ensuring it burns longer than the relay. Additionally, it is specially designed to rest overnight in a custom-made cauldron. Intriguing, isn’t it? But how can you catch every glimpse of this historic torch moment? The entire journey of the torch from Athens to Paris will be covered on television. Stay tuned to know more!