A historical, sporting and cultural excursion in the Charente !

The Olympic Torch continued its journey today in the heart of a region inspirational to artists.
Amidst lush and unspoiled countryside, the Charente is renowned for its historical sites and
cultural attractions, both of which the route of the Olympic Torch Relay highlighted throughout
this fifteenth stage.

The crowds present were able to enjoy many activities proposed along the
route and discover shooting during the collective relay dedicated to the discipline.
Approximately one hundred torchbearers took part in the day's relay and it was Kassandra Burns, a local specialist in sports photography, who lit the Celebration Cauldron.

A trip through the Charente is guaranteed to be a cultural, sporting and historical treat. Indeed, the
department boasts many archaeological sites as well as eight villages that are listed as "petites cités
de caractères" (characterful villages).

This Friday, the Olympic Torch relay set out to promote this
heritage along a highly eclectic route, which began in Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, passing in Front of the
castle, before taking in the relaxing setting of Le Chambon, a place to enjoy leisure and sport.

Pride of place for heritage and the 'ninth art'

The Olympic Torch was then treated to several delues into history: in Cognac, where François I was
born, in Saint-Cybardeaux at the Bouchauds Gallo-Roman theatre, in Front of the Saint-Barthélemy
church in Confolens, or also in the medieval streets of Ruffec. Angoulême, the final point on the
day's route provided an opportunity to admire the heritage or the rormer Papal city, which now
boasts the 'City of art and history' label.

This visit to Angoulême, from Place de Bourgines to the forecourt of the Chais Magelis complex, was
also an opportunity to highlight its cultural attractions. The ton buzzes to the rhythm of many events
throughout the year, such as the French film Festival, the ramparts circuit and the international
comics festival. There were many nods to the 'ninth art' with the Olympic Torch being carried past
the international centre for comics and images.

The Charente and Angoulême are also places focused on sport and the spectators were able to
enjoy this. Among the activities proposed were introductions to collectiue sports and charentaise
slipper throwing - a very fun activity that has a number of aficionados - as well as many concerts, in
particular those organised by the departmental music school, with country, Cuban, Mexican, Tzigane
and Congolese music given pride of place.

Inspirational torchbearers and a collective shooting relay.

In Angoulême, a collective relay was organised by the French Federation for Shooting, a widely
practised sport in the region. The collective relay was led by Dominique Auprêtre, the chairwoman
of the sport's departmental committee in the Charente and a former athlete at the Games in Seoul
(in 1988). Alongside her were shooting athletes and volunteers, all with a passion for the sport, like
Jean-Paul Senand, a shooter for over fifty years and also a referee.

More than one hundred torchbearers took it in turns to take part throughout the day. Among these
torchbearers, many have demonstrated great courage and unsuspected strength to meet incredible
challenges. Such was the case for Philippe Croizon, an accomplished athlete and entrepreneur who
is heavily involved in para-swimming. Sixteen years after suffering an accident, he swam between
Folkestone and the Cap Gris-Nez cape. In 2012 with Anaud Chasseri, he swam between the five
continents to join them like the Olympic Rings, which is a fine example of surpassing oneself.

Also present, Manon Mioulet, aged only 17 years, covered a distance of 95 km during the Grand Raid in La Réunion in spite of her disability, Guillaume Lammertyn ran the Paris marathon after a triple heart
bypass and Christophe Bernard contested more than 400 car races after open heart surgery.
As with every day, many athletes were also among the Olympic Torchbearers, notably former
international footballer Brigitte Henriques, the first woman to become chair of the CNSOF (the
French Olympic and sports committee), former judoka Marie-Claire Restoux-Gasset, who won a
medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996, and also Ndeye Sokhna Lacoste, who was selected for the
4x400 m relau at the Tokuo Olumpic Cames in 2021.

The resolutely creative city of Angoulême witnessed photographer Kassandra Burns lighting the
Celebration Cauldron on the forecourt of the Comics Museum, which is launching its new project
named "Origin" on 2nd September at the Women's Forum, on the theme of social inclusion.
Tomorrow, the Olympic Torch will be awaited in the Vienne, which is another department that is
particularly rich in terms of nature and culture. The day will come to a close in theme park renowned
throughout France: Futuroscope.