OLYMPIC TORCH ARRIVES IN MARSEILLE

NEWS

May 08, 2024

The Olympic Torch finally arrives on French soil! That was the expression that all those present at the Old Port had on their faces, upon the arrival of the ship Three Masts Belem, upon its arrival this Wednesday in Marseille, where it will begin the journey of this Fire in France.

🇫🇷 El @troismats_Belem a touché le Vieux Port de Marseille, où le champion olympique et du monde, @FlorentManaudou, est arrivé avec la flamme olympique, tandis que le chanteur Jul, animait le gala.

🤩 Une cérémonie de luxe 🔜🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/jHhKwSb6K3
— Centro Caribe Sports (@CentroCaribeS) May 8, 2024

Including the overseas territories, the host country of the next Olympic Games received the Torch in the presence of the President of the European nation, Emmanuel Macron and his wife, as well as the President of the Organizing Committee of the Games, Tony Estanguet, and the various sports leaders of France.

The Olympic swimming champion, Florent Manaudou, was responsible for carrying the Torch for the first time on Parisian soil, who initiated the Flame Relay, in a highly Olympic atmosphere and respect for this intimate moment for the Olympic movement.

_{Olympic champion Clement Mahoudeau presents the Olympic Torch to the waiting public around the Old Port in Marseille. (Credit: Paris 2024 / SIPA PRESS)}

Nantenin Keita, Paralympic champion and four-time Paralympic Games medalist, received the baton from the hands of Manaudou, who in turn passed it to the Marseille native singer, better known as JuL, who was in charge of lighting the cauldron located in the Old Port.

The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee chose the native Marseille singer to represent the energy, youth and festive spirit of a welcome such as the Olympic Torch. JuL is a famed French rap artist who has sold 8.2 million albums in 10 years.

Belem’s boat arrived in Marseille after a 12-day journey across the Mediterranean from Piraeus in Greece when it set sail on April 27, and during its crossing, the Olympic Flame was accompanied by 16 precursors, all young people between the ages of 17 and 25. Upon its arrival in the Old Port, 1,024 local boats received the Paris 2024 Torch.

𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄 !

🔥 Quelle aventure, quel accueil, merci Marseille ! pic.twitter.com/BMWaQ8pkJQ
— Trois-mâts Belem (@troismats_Belem) May 8, 2024

GREAT MOMENTS OF THE TORCH IN MARSEILLE

One of the most anticipated and inspiring moments of the arrival of the Three Mast Belem ship was when the four-time Olympic medalist removed the Torch from the trunk, a work of art manufactured by the Louis Vuitton brand, so that the more than 150 thousand spectators could appreciate the combination of the Olympic Fire with the waters of the sea in the French space and the spectacular views they enjoyed this afternoon.

Quel moment !!!
Un moment d'Histoire !

Retour sur l’arrivée de la Flamme Olympique en France, à Marseille, sur le thème musical officiel des Jeux ,"Parade", composé par Victor Le Masne. pic.twitter.com/M7uueJqAQ4
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) May 8, 2024

Another moment of pure positive vibes was when French rapper JuL took part in the Relay to light the fire in Marseille, in an iconic cauldron for the city.