Soil from Ancient Olympia sent to Paris ahead of 2024 Olympics

·

As preparations enter final stages for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, French officials have turned to the birthplace of the games, Ancient Olympia, for symbolic reasons. 

Representatives of France’s Terre de Jeux 2024 have collected a small amount of soil from ongoing excavations near the eastern portico of the Ancient Gymnasium in Ancient Olympia.

The location of the soil was very important and symbolic as the Gymnasium served the needs of the athletes and their companions during the period of the Olympic Games since the preparations of the athletes took place in the Gymnasiums of Elis. 

The collection of soil was led by Emilie Gomis, a basketball player who won silver with the French team in the 2012 Olympic Games. 

The collection of soil was led by basketball player Emilie Gomis. Credit: Hellenic Olympic Committee

For the purposes of a documentary, the collection of over two thousand grams of soil to transport back to Paris was filmed. 

According to tradition, the Olympic Flame will be lit in Ancient Olympia and transported to France by boat. 

President of the Olympic Torch Relay Committee of the EOE, Thanasis Vassiliadis, accompanied the French delegation and answered all questions regarding the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony.

Source: Greek Reporter

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Prespes lakes face severe drought threat

Scientists are warning of the “slow death” of the Prespes lakes, as water levels have dropped to their lowest point in 35 years.

Popular mountain destination in Greece introduces ‘culture fee’ per night for visitors

Tourists staying in the Municipality of Zagori will now pay a €0.75 “culture fee” per night for hotel or short-term rental accommodations.

Greece declares 2026 a tribute year to Manos Hadjidakis

The Greek Ministry of Culture has proclaimed 2026 a year dedicated to honoring Manos Hadjidakis, the visionary composer.

Greece to deregister 285,000 inactive university students

Greece’s Education Ministry will remove over 285,000 inactive students from university records in December, Sofia Zacharaki announced

My Greek Kitchen’s Niki Louca shares her favourite Pavlova Roll recipe

Niki Louca from My Greek Kitchen shares her favourite recipe for a pavlova roll with The Greek Herald.

You May Also Like

Faith, family and football: The making of Nectarios Triantis

Growing up in a bustling Greek Australian household in Sydney, footballer Nectarios Triantis was never far from a football - or chaos.

Paris Coudounellis sentenced for breaking into ex’s home and crawling into his bed

Paris Coudounellis has been sentenced after breaching an apprehended violence order by cutting open flyscreens and sneaking into her ex's bed

Kimberly Guilfoyle meets Greek PM ahead of taking up post as US ambassador

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a brief “introductory” meeting with newly appointed US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle.