After traveling through Greece for 12 days aboard the legendary Belem, this wednesday the Olympic flame will land on French soil. It will arrive at the Port of Marseille and from there begin a 69-day journey across the entire French territory.
The first stop on French soil will be Marseille, and the city is preparing to receive the Olympic flame. Aboard the Belem, declared a historical monument, the “Vieux Port” (Old Port) will await the torch and will be greeted by over 1,000 vessels. Once in the port, the Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra and a fireworks display will kick off the Olympic flame’s journey through France.
The Belem
In 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Greece, the same year the Belem was born in France. Now their paths converge again to carry the Olympic flame to France on a 12-day journey ending this wednesday.
Step aboard with the Olympic flame! 🔥⚓
Come behind the scenes on the Belem, the historic French ship carrying the Olympic flame from Greece 🇬🇷 to France 🇫🇷.#OlympicTorchRelay | #Paris2024 | @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/oYokk9LEpj
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) April 29, 2024
This ship has endured fires, volcanic eruptions, and survived the rise of steamships. It has also changed hands many times, from the Duke of Westminster to the Italian carabinieri, passing through the Irish brewer Ernest Guinness until the French Navy made it French again in 1979, and today it is a symbol of France’s representation.
Celebration Across France
Once in France, the flame will traverse 400 cities, 65 French departments, and six overseas territories, all of which are preparing for its arrival. For this entire journey, 10,000 torchbearers will carry the Olympic torch. These torchbearers will pass through all French cities announcing the arrival of the Olympic Games, marching, running, cycling, surfing, skating, or even climbing. Additionally, there will also be teams.
Some of the most important cities the Olympic flame will pass through are Corsica, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Saint-Denis, Nice, Saint-Etienne, Strasbourg, Lille, Versailles, and of course Paris. Moreover, during its journey through all these cities, it will also stop in small towns.
Each torchbearer will carry the Olympic torch for a distance of 200 meters. For the first time in Olympic history, collective relays will be organized, aiming to put sports at the center of the relay and highlight the value of those who live sports every day. A collective relay will bring together 24 people, including Olympic athletes, coaches, referees, and volunteers, with a captain who will carry the torch.
During the 69 days of relays, the Olympic flame will cover a total distance of 12,000 kilometers, with the torchbearers moving at an average speed of 4 kilometers per hour.
Olympic Objects
With the arrival of the Olympic Games, it’s helpful to familiarize oneself with some of the objects that are being talked about now and will be even more prominent as the opening ceremony approaches.
The torch: the most emblematic object of the relay. It embodies, through its shape, color, and inspirations, the identity of each edition of the Olympic Games.
The lanterns: They contain the sacred flame throughout the relay and during the Olympic Games themselves, ensuring that it is the flame lit in Olympia. They are also called safety lamps.
The cauldron: Lit at the end of each stage by the final torchbearer, it is one of the most exciting moments of the day.
The cauldron of the Opening Ceremony: by lighting this cauldron, the relay of the flame ends, and the Olympic Games begin. The location of the cauldron lighting and the identity of the final torchbearer are kept secret until the last moment.