The sacred flame for the Paris 2024 Olympics will be ignited on Tuesday in ancient Olympia, marking the beginning of an extensive torch relay that will span from the Acropolis to the South Pacific. This symbolic ceremony will take place in the historic town in southwestern Greece, where the ancient Olympics originated in 776 BCE.

Dignitaries and spectators, including Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, are expected to attend this event, which occurs every two years for both the summer and winter Olympics.

The ceremony will unfold at the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, showcasing a blend of dance performances and musical presentations. The Olympic anthem will be delivered by American mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato, adding to the ceremonial atmosphere.

Following the torch lighting, the flame will embark on an 11-day relay across Greece, covering 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) through 41 municipalities with 600 torchbearers participating. The torch will ultimately be transferred to Paris 2024 organizers on April 26 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

The flame's journey to France will continue aboard the historic three-masted barque Belem, departing on April 27 and arriving in Marseille on May 8. This unique vessel, dating back to 1896, will carry the flame across the French territories, involving 10,000 torchbearers across 64 territories.

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26 will feature the flame, culminating its extraordinary journey as a centerpiece of the Games.