2023-06-23 17:16:15
The route of the Olympic Torch Relay was unveiled this Friday, June 23 at the large amphitheater of La Sorbonne in Paris. From May 8, 2024, and for 68 days until the opening ceremony of the Games on the Seine on July 26, no less than 400 cities will be crossed. 65 stopover towns will close the passage of the Flame each day, thus showing “the incredible riches of our country”.
Through Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, Usain Bolt invites himself to the Sorbonne, temple of knowledge and knowledge. ©David Savary
In his introductory speech, Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, did not fail to recall that these Games represent “the biggest collective project ever carried out in France”. For the announcement of the route of the Olympic Flame, the great amphitheater of La Sorbonne owes nothing to chance. It is indeed in this place that on June 23, 1894, Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the modern Olympic Games.
One hundred years following the 1924 Games, the Olympics therefore return to Paris. “In France, this is the sixth time that we have organized them” emphasizes Tony Estanguet who evokes organizers who have each time shown boldness with “the first participation of women in 1900 in Paris”, “the first Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc”, “the first Olympic Village in Paris in 1924”, “the first mascot in Grenoble in 1968” , and “an opening ceremony that everyone remembers in Albertville in 1992”.
An epic across France for more than two months
Referring to the route of the Olympic Torch Relay, the President of Paris 2024 is enthusiastic regarding the idea “to reach the greatest number of people throughout the territory”. In mainland France and overseas. In total these are 64 territories that are committed. 165 first locations (65 stopover towns, see below, and 100 emblematic sites) have been announced. Let us mention pell-mell the Mont Saint-Michel, the landing beaches, Sainte-Mère-Eglise, the cathedral of Rouen, the bay of La Baule, the bay of the Somme, the viaduct of Millau, the city of Carcassonne, the Mont Canigou , the Mont Ventoux, the Pic du Midi, the Mont-Blanc valley, Auvers-sur-Oise, or even the Palace of Versailles. Legendary sports facilities such as the Stade de Marseille, the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, or the Roubaix velodrome will be honoured. If all the departments will not be crossed (60 out of 96), all the regions will be.
After it will be (re)lit on April 16 in Olympia (sanctuary where the Ancient Games took place in Greece), the Flame will begin its journey in France in Marseille on May 8. It is by sea, aboard the magnificent three-master Bélem, that from Athens she will reach the city of Marseille. It will then be the beginning of a beautiful epic across France for more than two months. The Organizing Committee taking care to enhance its many assets.
Highlighting the beauty and diversity of France
Mont-Saint-Michel in the English Channel, crossing point of the Flame on Friday May 31, 2024. ©David Savary
Symbol of the Olympic Games, the Flame will also be hosted in the West Indies, Guyana, Tahiti, and Reunion. She goes travel some 12,000 km and will be carried by 10,000 people. She even goes cross the Atlantic by boat. A great first! It is Armel Le Cléac’h, skipper of Maxi Banque Populaire XI, who will bring the Flame of the metropolis to the West Indies. From June 7, the trimaran will leave Brest to reach Pointe-à-Pitre. A week will be enough for him. Everything is planned so that the flame never goes out.
“Spectacular, national and sporty” let’s risee Tony Estanguet regarding this Torch Relay which “wants to show the most beautiful face of our country” with “a France that shines”. The Torch Relay has indeed set itself the goal of to highlight the beauty and diversity of France, its history, its exceptional panoramas, its know-how, its traditions, its talents, those who create and innovate. “It’s really the start of the mobilization with the territories behind the Olympics. It will be magnificent,” says Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. For François Sauvadet, President of the Assembly of French Departments, “every Frenchman should feel proud to host the Olympic Games. It’s a fantastic showcase”. And the chosen one to say that “97 French departments have committed to be Terre de Jeux, that is to say that they will be able to organize events around the Games on their territory”.
Despite a somewhat convoluted layout, but one can imagine the puzzle of the organization, the route of the Olympic Torch Relay seems to have met with unanimous approval in view of the sustained and warm applause of the audience (elected officials, journalists, etc.) gathered in the great amphitheater of La Sorbonne. In the process, many territories hastened to communicate to the media on the passage of the Olympic torch on the ground. We would almost forget the recent controversy related to the ticket office. Auspicious…
*The route of the Paralympic Torch Relay will be revealed at the start of the school year.
Renowned captains and ambassadors
Laure Manaudou (Olympic champion in the 400m freestyle, silver medalist in the 800m freestyle and bronze medalist in the 100m backstroke at the Athens Olympics in 2004) and Florent Manaudou (Olympic champion in the 50m freestyle at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Double silver medalist in the 4×100m and 50m freestyle in Rio in 2016, silver medalist in the 50m freestyle at the last Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games): the siblings of swimming champions is one of the most beautiful relays of transmission in French sport.
mona francis (2022 European Para Triathlon Champion (PTWC) in Poland in Olsztyn), and Dimitri Pavade (silver medalist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in the T64 long jump) are two models of self-sacrifice for athletes of all generations.
Four public figures have also joined the Relais de la Flamme family. These first ambassadors each embody the energies of the Relais in their own way: the energy of sport, the energy of the territories and the energy of the collective. Chosen for their inspiring journeys, their respective commitments, their ability to bring emotions to life, they will carry the Flame and celebrate this moment of celebration with the French people.
Jamel Debbouze will bring his precious talent as an actor to this great human adventure that is the Torch Relay. Personality close to the French, he embodies the unifying state of mind of this great popular festival.
Marine Lorphelin, An accomplished and active young female doctor, she embodies, among other things, the values of sport, which is an integral part of her daily life. On the occasion of the Torch Relay, it will notably promote healthy sports.
Thierry Marx, representing the finesse and avant-garde of French gastronomy, it will highlight the love of the French for their land and will promote the know-how of our country.
Thomas Pésquet the most experienced French astronaut, embodying the values of excellence and self-transcendence, will still inspire the French with his extraordinary testimony to the beauty and richness of our planet.
Key figures and dates
10,000 bearers of the Olympic Flame.1 relay = 200 meters = 4 minutes.3,000 bearers will take part in collective relays.35 Federations involved in collective relays.16 avril 2024 : Flame lighting ceremony in Olympia, then nine days of relay in Greece.26 avril : Flame handover ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.27 avril : Departure of Belem from the port of Piraeus in Athens.8 May : arrival of the Flame in France, then 68 days of relay in France.July 26: Lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. 64 territories highlighted including 5 overseas (Guyana, Reunion, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Martinique). 65 stopover towns which will close the Relay stage each day .Over 400 cities visited.
1687669215
#show #France #shines
