The lighting ceremony of the flame for the  Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Buenos Aires 2018 took place in Athens’ historic Panathenaic Stadium – the location of the first edition of the Modern Olympic Games in 1896 – today, 24 July and was broadcasted live from Buenos Aires 2018’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

The event was adapted due to the national mourning for the victims of the fire that struck in Athens this early morning.

The combined Olympism’s traditions were embodied by the youthful energy of the performers: an actress playing the role of a high priestess lit the flame by means of a parabolic mirror to reflect the sun’s rays to symbolise fire’s purity.

Right after, a brief torch relay took place with two Argentine athletes sharing the fire with two Greek athletes. Later, the Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos (GRE) passed the flame to the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee President Gerardo Werthein (ARG).

The flame was then carried by two young South American cycling champions, Valentina Muñoz and Yoel Vargas, together with Argentine cycling legend Walter Perez, who was gold medallist at Beijing 2008.

Capralos gave his welcome address, apologising for the “simple” ceremony due to the tragic event happened in the Greek capital and wishing all the best for the smooth run of the Games.

Danka Bartekova (SLO) – IOC Member, Vice Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and Member of Coordination Commission for the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 – representing the International Olympic Committee also attended the event. “I hope the Olympic flame will inspire the generation of young athletes, young fans and young people all over the world”, she said.

Werthein, in his speech, stressed that “the Buenos Aires 2018 YOG are the 1st ever Olympic Games with gender equality participation and will make history finally closing this gender gap”.

The youth Olympic flame will arrive in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, July 25, and will be officially received the following day at the Youth Olympic Village in the Argentine capital.