The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympics was lit by the high priestess in the official ceremony at ancient Olympia on Tuesday 16th April 2024.  The high priestess usually uses a parabolic mirror and the sun's rays to ignite the torch at the birthplace of Olympic Games in Greece.  The traditional ceremony marks the start of a torch relay that will end in Paris for the start of the Games on 26th July.  The Olympic flame was lit in front of Greece's president Karerina Sakellaropoulou, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and leaders of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  After lighting the torch at the Temple of Hera, the flame was passed to the first torchbearer, Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos, at the edge of the ancient Olympic stadium for the start of an 11-day Greek relay that will finish in the Greek capital.

The Olympic flame will be handed over to Paris Games organisers in a ceremony at the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Olympic Games (Games of the I Olympiad) of 1896.  The flame will spend the night at the French Embassy, before departing the next day for France on board a 1896 three-masted barque, the 'Belem'.  The Olympic flame will then arrive at the Old Port in Marseille to a large ceremony on Wednesday 8th May, before the French leg of the relay begins.  Marseille was founded by Greek settlers of Phocaea in 600 BC, and is the oldest city in France.  The city will host all the sailing competitions.

Greek actress Mary Mina, in the role of high priestess, lit the 2024 torch using a backup flame instead of the parabolic mirror due to cloudy skies during the official lighting ceremony.  The backup flame was kept from the previous sunny day's rehersal.

The new 'column design' costumes for the performers were created by the internationally renowned designer Mary Katrantzou.

The first lighting of the Olympic flame in Ancient Olympia took place on 30th July 1936, for the Berlin Olympic Games.