Olympics 2024: the torch relay begins, football in the spotlight in Marseille | TV5MONDE

Basile Boli at the Basilica of the “Good Mother”, Didier Drogba at the Vélodrome stadium: football will be in the spotlight on Thursday in Marseille for the first leg of the Olympic torch relay that culminates on July 26, for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

The first Olympic cauldron was lit on Wednesday night in the old port, by Marseille rapper Jul, in front of 150,000 people. Pictures sent on mondovision.

But from Thursday, the torch will now cross France, for 78 days in mainland France and abroad, to arrive in Paris on July 26, where the Olympic cauldron will be lit. For this great torch relay, a tradition born during the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, Marseille will be the only city, along with Paris, to be crossed over a whole day.

And, like Wednesday, a large security system will be implemented to protect the torch and its bearers. “We will have mobile forces in civilian clothes as well as an anti-drone device,” summarized Bouches-du-Rhône police prefect Pierre-Edouard Colliex, recalling that traffic and parking will be prohibited on the relay route.

Throughout the journey through France’s second city, the flame will be carried by almost 200 torchbearers, athletes, artists and anonymous people, but also a collective of 28 European athletes, May 9 is also Europe Day.

The Ukrainian gymnast Maria Vysochanska, whose father fought on the front against the Russian invasion, will captain this collective relay in which the former French pole vaulter Jean Galfione, Olympic champion in 1996 in Atlanta, or Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk, three-time reigning Olympic champion in hammer throw.

Basile Boli and Tony Parker

Previously, it was Basile Boli, the legend of Olympique de Marseille, who symbolically opened this relay. The former Olympic defender, the sole scorer in the Marseille club’s 1993 Champions League final victory, will carry the flame in front of the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, which overlooks Marseille and is its most famous symbol.

He will then pass the torch to Colette Cataldo, 83 years old, a historic supporter of OM for more than 60 years.

Over eight segments traced through the city, the flame will then pass several emblematic places, in particular the Pharo Palace, the Corniche that dominates the Mediterranean, the Olympic Marina where the sailing events will be held this summer, the old port, the Mucem or the large MARSEILLE letters installed Hollywood- style at the northern entrance to the city.

On the cornice, former basketball player Tony Parker and Blues back Nando De Colo, silver medalist in 2021 in Tokyo, will be among the runners.

Former swimmers Frédérick Bousquet and Fabien Gilot, skier Cyprien Sarrazin, author this winter of an incredible double on the legendary Kitzbühel descent, and several members of the French sailing team, such as kite-foil world champion Lauriane Nolot or Ilca 7 specialist Jean-Baptiste Bernaz will also carry the Olympic torch.

Drogba before departure

The actress and comedian Nicole Ferroni, the TV host Camille Combal and the three-star chef Alexandre Mazzia, associated with the preparation of the athletes’ meals this summer and whose restaurant is located in Marseille, will also be torchbearers.

To conclude this first day of the relay, the final segment will take the flame to the Stade Vélodrome, where 10 matches in the women’s and men’s football tournaments will be staged this summer.

Football will then be in the spotlight with the presence of Jean-Pierre Papin, Ballon d’Or 1991, Louisa Necib, Marseillaise and former N.10 from the French team, and Valentin Rongier, current captain of OM.

The rapper Soprano, a child from Plan d’Aou, in the northern districts of the city, will perform a spectacular relay on the roof of the Stadium. He will then pass the flame to Eric Di Meco, European champion in 1993 with OM, who himself will pass it to Didier Drogba, another legend of the Marseille club, it is up to the latter to light the second cauldron in these Games, at the foot of the legendary Vélodrome.

On Friday, the flame will finally leave Marseille to continue its journey through the Var. Then the road will continue to Paris, via Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches, Château de Versailles and the Millau Viaduct.