The Hellenic Olympic Committee reveals the Olympic Torch Relay Route for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The details of the Olympic Torch Relay “Paris 2024”, which will take place in Greece from April 16 to 26, 2024, were presented by the Hellenic Olympic Committee at an event held at its headquarters.

According to the Chairman of the HOC Olympic Torch Relay Commission, Thanasis Vassiliadis, the first torchbearer will be Tokyo 2020 rowing gold medalist Stefanos Douskos, while the flame will be carried last by the men’s national water polo team, led by Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Giannis Fountoulis, to the Panathenaic Stadium, where it will be handed over to the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and IOC Member, Spyros Capralos, who will pass it on to the “Paris 2024” Organizing Committee.

The Lighting of the flame will take place on April 16 in Ancient Olympia and marks the beginning of an eleven-day journey. Around 600 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame through the Greek territory, covering over 5000 kilometers in 41 municipalities and ending on 26 April 2024 in the Panathenaic Stadium, where the modern Games have been revived.

The route of the Olympic flame has been designed to meet four main objectives:

• to cover the whole of Greece, connecting the four ends of the country, from Crete to Alexandroupoli and from Corfu to Kastellorizo.
• to promote our most important archaeological sites, highlighting the treasures of our history and culture (Ancient Elis, Mycenae, Knossos, Delphi, Ancient Philippi, Vergina, Sounio, Acropolis).
• to showcase the iconic landscapes that make up the beauty of Greece (Methoni, Nafplio, Santorini, Meteora).
• Finally, the aim is to honor the historical past that connects France and Greece, a story that developed over the years into a very strong friendship. France is mainly associated with the Greek Revolution of 1821, which ignited a great wave of sympathy and support for the Greek people. This movement found expression in great works of painting, sculpture and literature. In this sense, Messolonghi was chosen as a reference for the work of Eugène Delacroix, Greece in the Ruins of Messolonghi and Pylos for the famous naval battle of Navarino, among others.

The President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and IOC Member, Spyros Capralos, said among other things: “The Hellenic Olympic Committee is once again ready to successfully carry out this important mission. In this way, we present our country to the whole world in the best way and remind that the Olympic Games were born in our homeland and we, the young Greeks, remain worthy guardians of this heavy heritage.

However what is even more important for us are the very special messages that the Olympic flame carries with it. Especially at a time when there are wars in many parts of the world. At such a time, it is peace, cooperation, noble rivalry, the ideals of Olympism that can rekindle the flame of hope. Just yesterday, the 78th United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in favor of the observance of the Olympic Truce during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. This underlines the unifying power that sport, and the Olympic Games in particular, have in such a fragile world. This is how we can build a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal.”

Deputy Sports Minister Yannis Vroutsis, who attended the event, emphasized: “The flame will pass through our homeland, on a route with its own symbolism and with the main purpose of highlighting the centuries-old tradition of our country.

This journey, which accompanies historical routes and famous cultures, also includes my beloved Cyclades, for the first time since 2004: Blessed places that have flourished since ancient times and have left their indelible mark on world history.

I am very moved to be at the forefront of the sport at this auspicious moment, which has been upgraded by the election of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government in the field of education. I am sure that the journey of the flame will seal the centuries-old and strong bonds of friendship and solidarity between Greece and France and that the Olympic Games “Paris 2024″ will contribute to bridging the gap between peoples, for a better future for the entire planet.”

The Chairman of the HOC Olympic Torch Relay Commission, Thanasis Vassiliadis, then took the floor, detailing the 11-day journey of the flame through Greece. He also announced that the public can from now on submit an application to participate in the torch relay on the EOE’s website, hoc.gr.

During his presentation Mr. Vasiliadis also announced the names of the First and Last Torchbearers of the Relay. The first torchbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympic torch relay will be Tokyo 2020 rowing gold medalist Stefanos Douskos and The last torchbearer will be men’s national water polo team with its captain Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Giannis Fountoulis.

Finally, the Ambassador of France to Greece, Laurence Auer, also spoke at the event, while the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, and the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, gave welcoming addresses via video message.