Sun's rays light Olympic torch in final rehearsal in Greece

Reuters Videos
7 個月前

STORY: A Greek actress playing the high priestess used a parabolic mirror and the sun’s rays to ignite the torch in the final rehearsal before Tuesday's traditional ceremony at the birthplace of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

The ceremony marks the start of a torch relay in Greece and France that will end in Paris for the start of the Games on July 26.

On Tuesday the flame will be lit in front of Greece's president of the republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) leadership. In case of clouds that do not allow the use of the mirror to light the torch, the flame lit during the dress rehearsal is used as a backup.

After the relay in Greece, the flame will travel to France by ship, arriving in Marseille on May 8. The French torch relay will last 68 days and will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic flame at the Games' opening ceremony on July 26.