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Marseille has been chosen as the starting city for the traditional Olympic flame that will light the cauldron for the next Olympic Games in France, which will start on July 26, 2024. The flame will arrive in the port city by boat, from Greece, and will then start a tour “through all the French regions” starting in April next year, as announced by the president of the organizing committee, Tony Estanguet.
The Olympic fire already has its first stop on its way to Paris 2024. Marseille will be the city in charge of receiving the Olympic flame in the spring of next year, after the traditional lighting ceremony in Greece.
The Olympic flame will be lit by the sun’s rays in a ceremony held in Olympia, the place where the competition was born. Afterwards, the torch will travel to the south of France in the direction of Marseille aboard the Bélem, a three-masted ship that set sail for the first time in 1896 (it is one of the oldest ships on the continent) and that for the occasion will undertake a journey of about ten days.
The rest of the route of the Olympic torch to the opening ceremony in the French capital will be announced in May of this year, as confirmed by Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee for these Games. However, Estanguet has already announced that the torch will go through “all regions” of the nation.
The sporting legacy of Marseille
“Marseille is a city that promotes sport throughout France. We have the sea, the sun, football, the Stade de Marseille, skateboarding, all possible sports… I think the city will be very proud,” said skateboarder Vincent Matheron from Marseille. Official portal of the Olympic Games.
The port city will play a fundamental role in the development of the next Games, since it has two assigned venues – the Marseille Marina and the Marseille Stadium – which will host the sailing competitions and both women’s and men’s football tournaments.
“One of the keys was the central place that sport occupies in the city and in the hearts of its people, and the commitment that the city has had for many years with the Paris 2024 project,” Estanguet mentioned when breaking down the decision to choose Marseille as the place of reception of the Olympic fire.
Which city better than Marseille for a kick off? 🔵⚪️
Marseille will be the 1st French city to host the flame! From Athens, the flame will cross the Mediterranean Sea on the Belem and launch the Olympic Torch Relay 🔥
With our Presenting Partners, get ready for a great party! pic.twitter.com/yWsiHFww2Z
—Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) February 3, 2023
The mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, added that “Marseille was founded by Greeks who came from Phocea 2,600 years ago. By asking to receive the flame on our shores, we wanted to renew this great history of exchange, brotherhood, diversity and solidarity.”
Marseille is located in the south of the territory and is the oldest city in France. It was an ancient Greek colony, Massalia – which was founded around the year 600 BC. C.–, and is known for its warm and festive atmosphere.
It is thus, with a “great popular festival”, that the city will promote this multidisciplinary event, the third to be hosted by Paris which, when the time comes, will also have its own celebration between July 26 and August 11, 2024.
With AFP, AP and the official portal of Paris 2024
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