Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony: Olympic Flame handed over to Gangwon 2024 ahead of fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games
After being lit by the sun's rays inside the Panathenaic Stadium, the flame was passed to four young torchbearers and then received by Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee co-president Jin Jong-oh.
The Olympic Flame was lit inside Athens' all-marble Panathenaic Stadium - the venue of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 - on Tuesday (3 October) marking the final countdown to the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
With crowds admitted to a handover ceremony for the first time since the start of the pandemic, there was a lively atmosphere as proceedings got underway with Alexis Kostalas - the Master of Ceremonies since 2004 - in charge.
The High Priestess and Priestesses from the Temple of Hera in Olympia performed an evocative dance routine choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou who has been the artistic director of these ceremonies since 2008.
After saying a prayer to the god of the sun, Apollo, the High Priestess - played by Xianthi Georgiou - lit the Flame using the sun's rays via a parabolic mirror.
She passed the flame and an olive branch - given to winners at the Ancient Olympics - to the first torchbearer, Greek cross-country skier and biathlete Maria Belli.
The 17-year-old handed over to Korean figure skating medal hope Kim Hyun-gyeom with Greek alpine skier Apostolos Vougioukas and Korean moguls skier Yun Shin-ee subsequently jogging with the torch in the arena.
The flame was then captured in a safety lamp for transport to South Korea with Greek Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos performing the ceremonial handover to Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee co-president Jin Jong-oh before it will be making its way to the Republic of Korea.
Capralos used his address to pay tribute to former IOC President Jacques Rogge.
The Belgian, who inaugurated the Youth Olympics and "accomplished a great mission - to encourage young people to become actively involved in sports and thereby embrace the universal values of Olympism", passed away in August 2021.
Four-time shooting gold medalist Jin, the most successful Korean in Olympic history, was born in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon Province.
He said, "The flame we light together is just the beginning. It will come to symbolise friendship, excellence, and respect as it travels throughout South Korea engaging youth and inspiring local communites while also nurturing the growth of our aspiring athletes."
There now follows a three-month-long Torch Relay taking in 23 cities ahead of Gangwon 2024 which runs from 19 January to 1 February 2024.
You can watch the highlights below. For the full ceremony click here.