Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
Video shows lighting of Olympic torch at a church in Paris.
Fact
A compilation footage of two unrelated events linked to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Multiple social media users shared a video claiming to show the lighting of the Olympic torch ahead of the Summer Games that are due to begin in Paris from July 26. Users further claimed that the ceremony took place at a church in Paris. Newschecker, however, found the claim to be untrue. The Olympic flame lighting ceremony is in fact held in Greece’s Olympia. The viral footage is also unrelated to the Paris Olympics.
Several X users shared the 25-second-long “spectacular” video claiming to show, “Lighting of the Olympic Torch, from a París Church.”
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Excerpts Of LOP Rahul Gandhi’s Speech Shared In Wrong Context
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Olympic torch,” “lighting” and Paris on Google yielded an article published on the official website of the tournament. Detailing the lighting ceremony, it stated, “A few months before the opening of the Games, the Hellenic Olympic Committee holds a ceremony at the ancient site of the Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece. The flame is lit by the high priestess who, in front of the ruins of the temple of Hera, asks Apollo, the god of the sun, for help in lighting her torch with the sun’s rays caught on a parabolic mirror.”
“The Olympic flame is then placed in an urn and brought to the ancient stadium by Hestiada (the priestess keeper of the fire), where it is handed over by the high priestess to the first torchbearer along with an olive branch—a universal symbol of peace.Thus begins the start of the Olympic Torch Relay…,” it added.
This year’s ceremony was streamed live on the official YouTube channel of the Olympics on April 16.
Detailing the same, a report by France24 stated, “The sacred flame for the Paris 2024 Olympics was lit in Greece’s ancient Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Games, kicking off an epic torch relay stretching from the Acropolis to the South Pacific. Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of high priestess, lit the torch using a backup flame instead of a parabolic mirror due to cloudy skies… “
The Olympic torch arrived in France’s Marseille on May 8, and is in the country’s Nord region as of July 2. The relay is yet to reach Paris.
Hence, the Olympic torch for the 2024 games was actually lit up in Greece’s Olympia and not any Paris church as widely claimed.
What About The Video Then?
On carefully analysing the viral footage, we noticed that the first half seemingly shows daytime, while the second half was shot during the night time. Additionally, only one flame is seen heading towards the gate in the first half, however, the second shows two. The drastic change in the audios in the two segments can also be heard. This led us to conclude that two separate clips were compiled to make the viral footage.
Newschecker began investigating both the clips one-by-one.
Clip 1
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the clip led us to an X post by Father R. Vierling, a Catholic priest, dated April 10, 2023. Quoting another post, carrying a longer version of the viral clip, Fr Vierling elaborated on a Florentine Easter tradition. He also shared a link to a Visit Florence article.
“On Easter Sunday every year, Florence celebrates the religious holiday in a very special way. The Scoppio del Carro, or the “Explosion of the Cart”, dates back over 350 years,” the article stated. Notably, Florence is an Italian city.
It further stated, “…the Archbishop uses the fire to light a dove–shaped rocket (called the “Colombina” and symbolising the Holy Spirit) and this in turns flies out down a wire to the outside of the church and collides with the Cart in the square, setting off a spectacular firework display to the cheers of all, the Explosion of the Cart ensues!”
A closer look at the viral clip also revealed a bird-shaped object heading towards the gate.
We then looked up the keyword “ Scoppio del Carro” on YouTube, which yielded a,YouTube video by Toscana TV from March, 2024. It featured a video showing the same tradition – a priest lighting a dove-shaped rocket that heads outside, collides with a cart resulting in fireworks.
A Florence TV video, dated April 19, 2022 also carried the same visuals of the yearly Easter ritual.
We were also able to locate the cathedral seen in the viral clip in Florence on Google Maps. The same can be seen here.
Hence, the first clip shows an Easter tradition in Florence, and has been linked to the Paris Olympics.
Also Read: Viral Video Claiming To Show Delhi Floods Is Actually OId Footage From Bengaluru
Clip 2
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the clip led us to a YouTube video by DMD, dated June 11, 2024, showing a concert by Rammstein – a German band.
On comparing the viral clip with the YouTube video, we found the movement of the flames and fireworks to be the same. Additionally, an installation was also found to be identical.
We looked up the official Instagram account of the band, and found the geometric design seen in one of the installations to be Rammstein’s logo.
On further skimming through their Instagram account of the band, we found multiple images/videos showing the same set up as seen in the viral clip. Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Furthermore, we found multiple YouTube videos from Rammstein’s concerts showing the same fireworks as seen in the viral footage. Such videos can be seen here, here and here.
We could not independently ascertain the location of the viral clip. However, it’s from a music concert by Rammstein, and not from the Olympic flame lighting ceremony.
Conclusion
Hence, viral footage claiming to show the Olympic torch lighting ceremony at a church in Paris is false.
Result: False
Sources
Official Website Of Olympics
YouTube Video By Olympics, Dated April 16, 2024
X Post By @father_rmv, Dated April 10, 2023
Visit Florence Website
Google Maps
YouTube Video By DMD, Dated June 11, 2024
Instagram Account Of @rammsteinofficial
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
