Following a dance performance by the artists inspired by ancient Greek statues on the slope of the stadium, the High Priestess kindled the first Olympic torch for the Games and passed it to the first torchbearer, Greek rowing gold medalist Stefanos Ntouskos, along with an olive branch.

In parallel, a dancer released a white pigeon to spread the Olympic ideals of friendship and peace to the world as the flame's journey started.

Approximately 600 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame over some 5,000km across Greece, passing through dozens of cities and archaeological sites, according to the Hellenic Olympic Committee.