Paris 2024 torch lit in ancient Olympia, Olympic relay under way
Ancient Olympia, Greece Reuters The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was lit in ancient Olympia in a traditional ceremony on Tuesday, marking the final stretch of the seven-year preparations for the Games’ start on 26th July. Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of high priestess, lit the torch using a backup flame […]
Beijing torch begins COVID-shortened relay; Pope hails Paralympians, refugee athletes in Olympic message
Beijing, ChinaReuters Beijing’s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last only three days. The route taking the flame to landmarks including the Great […]
Waves, smiles but no cheers as Olympic torch relay kicks off under pandemic shadow
Fukushima/Tokyo, JapanReuters With waves, smiles and streamers, but no cheers, the Olympic torch relay kicked off on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the postponed 2020 summer Games in Tokyo, the first ever organised during a deadly pandemic. Casting a pall over celebrations already scaled back because of coronavirus measures, North Korea launched two short-range […]
Tokyo Games to be symbol of hope as flame goes on display
Tokyo, JapanReuters At a low-key ceremony to mark the unveiling of the Olympic flame display on Monday, Tokyo officials reiterated that next year’s Games will be a symbol of hope for the world as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. The flame will be on show from Tuesday at the Japanese Olympic Museum, located next […]
Tokyo 2020 to power Olympic torch with hydrogen for first time
Tokyo, JapanReuters Hydrogen will be used for the first time to power the Olympic torch during its journey through Japan, organisers said on Monday, as part of Tokyo 2020’s efforts to hold an environmentally friendly Games. Organisers aim to offset all carbon emissions generated during the Games and also use the Olympics to boost awareness […]