Torch relay kicks off in France as it arrives at the Marseille Vélodrome – Firstpost

Marseille: The Olympic torch relay completed its first day on French soil in Marseille on Thursday with the port city’s football legend Basile Boli taking the flame in front of the iconic Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica before passing it on to many other sports celebrities. stars on their way to the emblematic Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.

The former great French NBA player, Tony Parker, was also one of the 200 people who will carry the torch in Marseille, alongside skier Cyprien Sarrazin who collected the flame from the hands of Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska.

The 21-year-old Lviv, whose father fought on the front lines against the Russian invasion, was “captain” on the day of the collective relay of 28 athletes, with a representative from each of the 27 countries of the European Union, including Anita Wlodarczyk, three-time Polish Olympic hammer champion.

This relay “is a way of underlining our solidarity with Ukraine,” declared the French Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera.

Historical supporter, scorer in the European Cup final, comedian, agency director…
Meet our first Flame Relay scouts! There will be 11,000 of them to carry this Flame to Paris! 🔥#paris2024 pic.twitter.com/iNKQ9lZyO1

– Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) May 9, 2024

Former French international Boli, scorer of the only goal in Marseille’s victory against AC Milan in the final of the 1993 European Champion Clubs’ Cup, set off at 8:20 a.m. (06:20 GMT) just under the famous golden statue of the “Good Mother”, who watches over the second largest city in France. “It makes your heart beat and it’s fantastic,” Boli said.

“It’s the Olympic flame, it’s the symbol of sport, of living together, of everything we can hope for in the world.”

There was a strong football component during the first of the 78 days of the torch relay with 1991 Ballon d’Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin and Ivorian great Didier Drogba also among the torchbearers. The flame finished its first full day in France at 5:30 p.m. GMT at the Stade Vélodrome de Marseille, home of Olympique de Marseille, which will host 10 matches from the men’s and women’s Olympic football competitions.

Drogba, Marseille legend, carried the torch and lit the second cauldron of the Games, located on the Place du Vélodrome.

“The start is important in sport,” said chief organizer Tony Estanguet after the start of the relay. “We got off to a good start…now here we go.”

These are just the first steps in a 12,000 kilometer relay across France and its overseas territories before the opening ceremony in Paris on July 26.

Security testing

The flame arrived on French soil in Marseille on Wednesday aboard the 19th century sailing ship Belem in front of 150,000 spectators for a ceremony which constituted a first major test in terms of security for the organizers of the Paris 2024 Games.

As the ship entered the Old Port of Marseille, followed by hundreds of small boats, the planes of the Patrouille de France traced the Olympic rings and then the red, white and blue of the French flag in the sky.

Yesterday they were at the Old Port to welcome the Flame, this evening they will support their favorite club!
Everything is Olympic with the South Winners 💙🤍#Olympic flame #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/aWiETBxtrz

– Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) May 9, 2024

Fireworks were set off as the Belem docked after its 12-day voyage from Greece, where the flame was lit in ancient Olympia on April 16.

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Florent Manaudou carried the ship’s torch and passed it to Paralympic sprint champion Nantenin Keita, who handed it to French rapper Jul to light a cauldron.

“Moment of unity”

President Emmanuel Macron praised the “unprecedented effort” of the security forces in Marseille. And after seeing the flame arrive, he declared that he hoped that the Olympic Games would bring France together.

“I want our compatriots to imagine that this is a moment of unity and that we are capable of it and that we can be proud of it,” he said.

In the background in Marseille, around 6,000 members of the security forces are on duty at a time when the country is on highest terrorist alert.

Extremely tight security will be a constant as the flame passes through more than 450 French cities and past dozens of tourist attractions, including Mont Saint Michel. He will also visit French overseas territories, including Guadeloupe, New Caledonia and Réunion.

Around 200 security forces are expected to be permanently positioned around the torch, including an anti-terrorism SWAT team and anti-drone officers.

Organizers have promised a “spectacular” and “iconic” Olympic and Paralympic Games, with much of the sport taking place at venues around the City of Lights, including the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides.

The Paris Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8.