A symbolic stage for the Olympic torch in Calvados, a land of remembrance!
The Olympic torch has spent twenty days touring the regions and connecting with the French public. Calvados took centre stage in this popular celebration on Thursday, 30 May. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the journey of the Olympic torch began on Omaha Beach. This iconic D-Day site also set the scene for an equestrianism team relay with the Olympic gold medallist Pénélope Leprévost as the captain and Nicolas Canteloup also present. The charming seaside villages shone on this emotionally charged day, which reached its crescendo in Caen, where the street artist SoLiCe lit the celebration cauldron at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes.
Calvados is a land of contrasts where verdant meadows meet the blue-grey cliffs hugging the English Channel. It is also a land of conquest, as the region from which William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, launched his invasion. Testament to its heritage are elements such as the 11th-century Caen Castle and the Bayeux Tapestry, inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Seaside resorts such as Cabourg, Houlgate and the boardworks of Deauville draw numerous visitors, while the D-Day beaches uphold the duty to remember.
The Olympic torch shines a light on the department a few days before the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings
On Thursday morning, the Olympic torch paid solemn tribute on Omaha Beach, a world-famous historical site, in an emotionally charged moment with Maxime Wille, the great-grandson of Léon Gautier. Gautier, who passed away last summer, was the last surviving member of the Kieffer Commando, the sole French battalion that fought on D-Day. Maxime Wille paid tribute to his great-grandfather, who died at 100, and the ordinary men thrust into heroism on that day.
In Lisieux, the second pilgrimage site in France, the Olympic torch took in the views over the town from atop Saint Theresa's Basilica. Later in the morning, it illuminated the beautiful towns of the Côte Fleurie, starting with Cabourg and its beaches, from Dives-sur-Mer to Houlgate, a true open-air museum with 300 Belle Époque villas. In the estuary town of Honfleur, the Olympic torch enjoyed a singular moment along the Vieux Bassin quays before concluding this segment at La Lieutenance, a historic building in this Norman port.
On Thursday, 30 May, the colours of the relay adorned Bayeux, which served as the temporary capital of France in summer 1944. The torch cast its glow over the British cemetery and the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum, which recounts the battles fought there in World War II. The stage continued through the alleys, reaching Notre-Dame de Bayeux Cathedral, a classified historic monument since 1862. In the late afternoon, the Olympic torch had another brush with history at the castle of William the Conqueror, an imposing fortress practically as ancient as Normandy itself. Stage 20 ended in Caen, a city steeped in heritage and history, where it toured the "city of a hundred bell towers" from the Abbaye aux Dames park to the marina, tracing the banks of the Orne river.
Team relay on Omaha Beach puts the spotlight on Calvados, a hotspot of equestrianism
Horses take pride of place here. Stud farms, racecourses and equestrian centres are woven into the fabric of Calvados. The 120 kilometres of beaches lining the coastline of the department are not just a haven for sailors, but also stage show jumping events. This morning saw an equestrianism team relay unfold on Omaha Beach, showcasing the various disciplines of the sport. Leading the way was Pénélope Leprévost, a giant of show jumping. Whether mounted or driving, 24 relay participants representing the full equestrian spectrum came together to honour their sport. Among them were the 80-year-old François Lucas, who continues to ride and share his passion, and Émilie Godard, fresh from competing at the French championships. Amid the inspiring tales was a famous face. It was the comedian Nicolas Canteloup, a French silver medallist in the over-40s eventing category, making an appearance. Horses and riders banded together to champion the French equestrian heritage.
Over 150 Olympic torchbearers converge on Calvados
Since 9 May, the Olympic torch has encountered many moving and inspiring stories. Today, it was Florence Alix-Gravellier's turn to carry the torch in Place de Courtonne in Caen. A six-time French wheelchair tennis champion, two-time Australian Open winner, Roland Garros and US Open finalist and two-time bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, she advocates for inclusion and fights to raise awareness of disabilities —whether visible or invisible— through the French Tennis Federation. Meanwhile, near La Dives, Lucas Delaunay flew the flag for sea rescuers, his devotion and bravery honoured with a medal for a heroic deed on Omaha Beach.
Studio Danielle, an online personality famed for her endearing social media interactions with her grandson, was also among those carrying the Olympic torch through Caen.
Capping the day was Étienne Carpentier, aka SoLiCe, a street artist since the 1990s, who lit the celebration cauldron at Caen City Hall, one of the finest municipal buildings in France. A skater-turned-graffiti artist, Étienne has left his imprint on Caen's cultural fabric through iconic murals such as the towering Orelsan fresco on the Presqu'île peninsula and a 38-metre piece at the François Baclesse Cancer Centre.
The Olympic Torch Relay enters a spectacular phase tomorrow in the La Manche department, which will put its best foot forward. The highlight of the day will be the visit to the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel. Before reaching this iconic site, it will call at several historic and scenic towns, such as Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Saint-Lô, Sainte-Mère-Église, Granville and Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny.