In the old grassy ruins of 2,600 years of the Temple of Hera, near the stadium where the young athletes of antiquity fought their own games, thirty young women dressed as priestesses in long bright dresses completely folded, performed a slow dance in honor of Apollo, the sound of the flute.
Then the sun, passing through a concave mirror, gave life to the precious flame at 9:52 GMT (11:52 French).
These Games will be held “ in a world shaken by crises “, noticed this décor President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, before paying tribute to the “ Brazilian people “that” in just weeks, enthusiastically welcome the world and dazzle us with her joy of life and passion for the sport . ”
“ This will be the highlight of Brazil and it will be the Games of Brazil ,” he said. And “ despite the difficulties facing (the country), this flame is immemorial reminder that we all belong to the same humanity “, it “ will bring (a message of hope) in every corner of Brazil and all over the world . ”
These Olympics are held in effect in Brazil in turmoil, while President Dilma Rousseff fight against time to prevent his removal, after embezzlement assumed in 2014, had to cancel his participation in the ceremony .
The country was represented by Thursday including the president of the organizing committee of the Games to Rio Carlos Nuzman and Minister Ricardo Leyser Sports.
– 12,000 torchbearers –
The Flame “ brings the message that ” our dear Brazil can and will be united, a country that deserves its quest for a better future “, for his part, said Mr. Nuzman, while noting that the country had ” sailed through the toughest waters that the Olympic movement has ever known “to prepare these Games.
the flame, lit by Greek actress Katerina Lehou will begin a long journey, a few days in Greece and a crossing of the Atlantic and a course of several weeks in Brazil, with 300 passing towns and 12,000 torchbearers, before arriving at the Maracana stadium in Rio for the opening ceremony on August 5.
the first torchbearer was Greek gymnast Lefteris Petrounias world champion on rings, which would then pass Brazilian volleyball legend Giovane Gavio, Olympic champion in 1992 and 2004 and now director of volleyball for the Rio Games.
in Greece, where currently stationed some 54,000 migrants and refugees that the border closure north prevented from leaving the country, the spotlight will be on the issue next Tuesday, with the torch passing through the camp Eleonas in Athens.
A Syrian, who lost a leg during the war in his country, and has lived in Athens after being granted asylum in Greece, will carry the Flame through the camp, populated by 1,500 people.
The International Olympic Committee also announced that a team of ten refugees participate in the Games: 43 refugees top athletes have so far been identified as potential competitors.
– ‘Brazil is prêt’-
The flame will be passed next Wednesday in Brazil at a ceremony at the marble stadium of Athens, the scene of the first modern Games in 1896 . the tradition of the flame that burned throughout the ancient Games, however, has been delivered to date in 1936, the Olympic Games in Berlin.
Rousseff insisted on Tuesday that preparations were “ in an absolutely appropriate position ” and even “ more advanced than what we planned “.
Wednesday by attending the rehearsal of the ceremony, Mr. Bach had recognized “ difficulties ” to overcome in these preparations, and “ the final kilometers are still toughest “, but assured that it would be” excellent Games . ”
On Thursday, he said after the ceremony that “ 99% of the infrastructure is ready, and that the tests are conducted successfully .”
Even optimistic by the Brazilian Minister of Sports: “ Brazil is ready “, said Mr. Leyser to reporters, predicting that in the great Brazilian tradition, the OJ would be “ a big party ” that “ would make people forget their problems .”
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