Olympics 2024: why the Olympic flame will not pass through Lyon

From its arrival in France via Marseille for two days on 8 and 9 May 2024 to the final leg in Paris on 26 July for the start of the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame will travel 1,200 kilometers and pass through dozens of municipalities in the region. .

The flame in Saint-Etienne, but not in Lyon

Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Brest, Fort-de-France, Nice, Valence, Saint-Etienne, Strasbourg, Metz, Reims, Lille, Le Havre, Orléans, Dijon and cities in Ile-de-France France. .. but not Lyon.

The third French city will be one of the only major cities in the country not to receive the famous Olympic flame. The relay, which will cross a large part of the regions, including abroad, promises to be an appetizer before the Olympics for a fortnight.

But in Lyon and Rhône, no Olympic flame on the horizon. We explain why.

“It’s expensive because it’s very volatile”

The Rhône departmental council and the Métropole de Lyon refused to host the event due to cost. And they are not the only ones: 37 departments consider the bill too high. The two communities, one led by the right, the other by environmentalists, are aligned. It’s not about affection 180,000 euros for the flame.

“There would be less money injected into our territory, knowing that to this sum would be added the costs of activities and security,” explained Christophe Guilloteau (LR) in the head of the Rhône department in 2023. “It is expensive because it is very volatile,” says the elected representative.

“Not reasonable”

Including logistics, road and security costs, the bill even amounted to 220 to 230,000 euros. “180,000 euros for an action lasting a few hours in the region is not reasonable, because public money is important,” lamented Bruno Bernard (EELV) in the leader of Lyon Metropolis in Figaro.

“I explained to Tony Estanguet (president of Paris 2024) that they would have done better to go through the regions that were better able to implement things. He then informed me that the requested cost did not even cover the cost of the surgery. Maybe they could have done something more sober with a return to the very essence of games with people carrying a flame. It didn’t require 180,000 euros”, lamented the elected environmentalist.

A municipality in the Rhône will receive the flame

Although neither the Metropolis nor the department officially organizes the reception of the Olympic flame, a municipality will benefit from it. Neuville-sur-Saône, near Lyon, will be entitled to a small part of the event.

On 21 June between 1pm and 2pm, the Olympic flame will be lit in front of the town hall. The relay, made up of Sanofi employees, will then set out on a 1.5km route to reach the manufacturing site.

The event is actually funded bythe pharmaceutical giant, partner of the Olympic Games. “This torch relay will be an opportunity, I hope, to organize a great sports celebration,” he rejoiced.news Lyon Eric Bellot, mayor of the municipality of Val de Saône.

But the Paralympic flame is yes

During his wishes in January 2024, the mayor of Lyon Grégory Doucet was delighted. Lyon will welcome an Olympic flame, but not the Olympics in July-August. This will be it Paralympic Games also organized in Paris from 28 August to 8 September 2024.

Lyon will welcome the flame August 26, which comes from Antibes in the South of France. But why this flame instead of the Olympic Games, which are much more publicized? “The costs of the Paralympic torch relay are borne by Paris 2024 and cost nothing to local authorities,” explains Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee interviewed in Western France.

Less publicized and above all less expected, the organization still hopes for public enthusiasm for this flame. France hosts the Paralympic Summer Games for the first time after the Olympics.

“It is less well known. This is why we have to make atypical choices, rely on territories that are already committed, to ensure that there will be great commitment deployed during these events, hopes Tony Estanguet.

In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 1,000 torchbearers will be deployed between the three cities of the region of Lyon, Vichy and Thonon-les-Bains. To see the Olympic flame, you must go to Saint-Etienne to enjoy the event…

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