ATHENS (AP) — The flame that will burn at the Paris Olympics has been formally handed over to French organizers at a ceremony in Greece. Friday’s ceremony was held in the all-marble Panathenaic stadium in Athens where the first modern Games were held in 1896.
TOPSHOT – Final torchbearer and captain of Greece’s water polo team, Ioannis Fountoulis, lights the Olympic cauldron with the Greek National Water Polo team during the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games at Panathinean stadium in Athens, on April 26, 2024. The ceremony marks the culmination of an 11-day Olympic Torch Relay across Greece and begins an epic three-month torch relay and countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on 26 July, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) 
ATHENS, GREECE – APRIL 26: ATHENS, GREECE – APRIL 26: Greek water poloist Ioannis Fountoulis lights the cauldron during the Olympic flame handover ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Panathenaic Stadium on April 26, 2024 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) 
Greek actor Mary Mina playing the role of the High Priestess holds the Olympic torch during the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Panathinean stadium in Athens, on April 26, 2024. The ceremony marks the culmination of an 11-day Olympic Torch Relay across Greece and begins an epic three-month torch relay and countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on 26 July, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) 
ATHENS, GREECE – APRIL 26: ATHENS, GREECE – APRIL 26: Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, holds the torch during the Olympic flame handover ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Panathenaic Stadium on April 26, 2024 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) 
Greek actor Mary Mina playing the role of the High Priestess lights the Olympic torch during the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Panathinean stadium in Athens, on April 26, 2024. The ceremony marks the culmination of an 11-day Olympic Torch Relay across Greece and begins an epic three-month torch relay and countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on 26 July, 2024. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP) (Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images) 
A bronze statue of a discus thrower stands opposite the the Panathinean stadium in Athens, on April 26, 2024, after the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ceremony marks the culmination of an 11-day Olympic Torch Relay across Greece and begins an epic three-month torch relay and countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on 26 July, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
The flame will depart for the southern French port city of Marseille on Saturday on a 19th century French sailing ship. It will make landfall 12 days later after a journey across the Mediterranean Sea.
The flame was kindled on April 16 at Olympia in southern Greece, where the ancient games were held for more than 1,000 years.
The Paris Games open on July 26.