On April 26, at the Panathenaic Stadium, Athens, Greece, the Olympic torch transfer ceremony took place to the Paris 2024 Olympic organizing committee.
Greek and French officials, members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and thousands of spectators were present to witness this important ceremony.
Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos handed the torch to Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
In his speech, Mr. Estanguet stressed that the country's goal is to host a "spectacular but more responsible" Olympics, thereby contributing to building a more inclusive society.
Two French athletes, ice skater Gabriella Papadakis and former Paralympian swimmer Beatrice Hess - one of the most successful Paralympians in history - carried the Olympic torch on its final journey at the Panathenaic Stadium.
After a night's "intermission" at the French Embassy in Athens, the Olympic torch will begin its journey to France the next morning on the 19th-century sailing ship Belem.
It is expected that on May 8, the Belem ship will arrive in Marseille and there will be a ceremony to receive the Olympic torch.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said an elite combat team, bomb disposal teams, maritime police and an anti-drone team had been deployed to ensure the safety of the Belem ship as it carried the Olympic torch to the port city of Marseille.
In addition, French authorities also deployed about 6,000 police to ensure security for the Olympic torch welcoming ceremony on May 8.
Here, the torch relay will begin with the participation of 10,000 athletes, with "swimmer" Florent Manaudou being the first to receive this honor.
As planned, the torch relay will take place in more than 450 towns and cities and dozens of tourist destinations in France and its overseas territories with a total length of up to 12,000km.
The sacred torch will be lit at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics on July 26 after a 68-day torch relay.
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