Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympic Games, has been chosen as a torchbearer for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Bindra, who clinched gold in the men's 10m air rifle at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, will be part of the Olympic torch relay scheduled from April 16 to July 26.
Expressing his excitement, Bindra shared the news on his Instagram handle, saying, "Excited to share that I’ll be a torchbearer for the @paris2024 Olympic Games, a beacon of peace and perseverance across the globe. This flame represents our collective spirit and the power of dreams. A great privilege and honour!"
The Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay will commence its journey in France on May 8, 2024, with the flame arriving in Marseille before embarking on 68 days of travel across the French territories. The relay will encompass 65 territories, including five overseas territories, featuring 10,000 torchbearers, including 3,000 participating in Team Relays, and covering 400 cities.
The torch's journey begins near Olympia in Greece, traditionally the starting point of the ancient Olympics. After being lit in Greece, the flame will embark on a sea journey aboard the Belem, a three-masted ship, crossing the Mediterranean from Athens to Marseille.
Abhinav Bindra, also a member of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), adds to the symbolism of the Olympic Torch Relay as a representation of peace, unity, and the enduring spirit of athletes across the globe.
(With Agency Inputs)
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