Olympic Torch arrived at the port of Marseille by the ship Belém, used for the first time in 1896Sylvain Thomas / AFP
Published 05/08/2024 16:11
The Olympic torch, one of the main symbols of the Olympics, arrived by ship in Marseille this Wednesday, and was received by thousands of people who gathered in the French city to attend the event. The piece was transported on a majestic three-masted ship that came from Greece for the ceremony located in the city’s ancient port.
A strong security scheme was prepared and eight thousand police officers participated in the operation. According to local authorities, around 50 thousand people were present to welcome the torch.
Thousands of firefighters and bomb squads were positioned around the city, along with maritime police and anti-drone teams, who patrolled the municipality’s waters and airspace.
“It’s a monumental day and we’ve been working hard so that Marseille’s visitors and residents can enjoy this historic moment,” said Yannick Ohanessian, the city’s deputy mayor.
President Emmanuel Macron met with French Olympic athletes who sailed on the ship called Belém. “With the arrival of the flame, the country enters the Games,” Macron said at the city’s Olympic Marina.
Tony Estanguet, who chairs the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organizing Committee, said that the return of the competition to France was reason for a “fantastic celebration”.
“As a former athlete, I know how important the start of an event is. That’s why we chose Marseille, because it is definitely one of the cities most passionate about sport,” said Estanguet, a former Olympic canoeing athlete who won gold medals at the 2000 Games , 2004 and 2012.
The torch was lit in Greece last month, before being officially handed over to France. She left Athens aboard a ship called Belém, first used in 1896, and spent twelve days at sea. On its maiden voyage, the vessel was destined for a commercial warehouse located in the Brazilian city of Belém, which gave rise to the sailboat’s name.
The torch relay will begin this Thursday in Marseille, before heading to Paris, passing through iconic places across the country, from the world-famous Mont Saint-Michel to the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, and even the Palace of Versailles.
