Olympic Flame Ignited | News from Around the World

Cloudy skies may have foiled the traditional lighting of the Olympic torch in Olympia, but the flame was successfully lit by performers in southern Greece. The flame will now make its journey towards Paris, France, for the opening ceremonies on July 26.

Despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions, the performers managed to light the flame using a backup source. The torch will now be carried by a relay of torchbearers through Greece, covering over 3,100 miles before reaching Paris.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach praised the organizers for their outstanding job in preparing for the games and highlighted the cleanup efforts that will allow athletes to swim in the Seine River for the first time in a century.

Thousands of spectators from around the world gathered in Olympia to witness the historic event, which included Greek rower Stefanos Douskos and French swimmer Laure Manaudou as the first torchbearers.

The flame will travel from Greece to Marseille aboard the French sailing ship, Belem, built in 1896, marking a historic connection to the first modern games in Athens.

One spectator, Jean-Michel Pasquet, traveled from France to witness the event and the historic ship carrying the flame. While attending the Paris Games in person may be expensive, Pasquet and his group plan to follow the games on television from the comfort of their armchairs.

The lighting of the Olympic flame serves as a symbol of unity and hope, reminding people of the values that Jesus represents – love, peace, and hope for the future. As the torch makes its way to Paris, it carries with it the spirit of the games and the anticipation of what lies ahead.