A tidal wave of enthusiasm for the Paris 2024 Games sweeps through Hauts-de-Seine
The atmosphere in Hauts-de-Seine was electric on Wednesday, 24 July as the Olympic Torch Relay snaked its way from Chateaubriand to Nanterre. Over 200 torchbearers took turns spreading a message of unbridled enthusiasm throughout the department with just two days to go until the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Among them were iconic figures of French sport such as Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympian, as well as the tennis champion Amélie Mauresmo, the former handball player Olivier Girault and Hakim Arezki, who claimed silver in blind football at the London 2012 Games.
Other action-packed moments included a sensational equestrianism team relay in the heart of the Haras de Jardy and a taekwondo one in Gennevilliers with Pascal Gentil at the forefront. The Cultural Olympiad got in on the act too, with the Parade(s) festival making the beat for the torch as it wound its way through Nanterre. A short while later, the judoka Gévrise Émane, who has won five European titles and a bronze medal from the London 2012 Olympic Games, had the honour of lighting the cauldron beneath the Arche de la Défense.
The Olympic torch brings a sizzling atmosphere to Hauts-de-Seine
All eyes are on France as the countdown to the start of the Olympic Games ticks down. The world fixed its gaze on Hauts-de-Seine today. This vibrant department, home to the largest business district in Europe, Paris La Défense, is also a true "Land of Games". Gearing up to host the field hockey, swimming, water polo, and marathon events for the Paris 2024 Games, Hauts-de-Seine is without a shadow of a doubt a hotspot of excitement. From the Grand Siècle Museum to La Seine Musicale, the people of Haute-Seine revel in a rich cultural environment.
On Wednesday, 24 July, the Olympic torch illuminated the rich tapestry of this department. The stage began at the crack of dawn at the Chateaubriand residence, in the heart of Parc de la Vallée aux Loups. Its next stop was the château in Sceaux, built in the late 17th century under the supervision of Jean-Baptiste Colbert with gardens imagined by André Le Nôtre, the mastermind behind the gardens of Versailles. From there, it advanced to the Île-de-France CREPS in Châtenay-Malabry and on to the Sports Park in Clamart. In Vaucresson, the Olympic torch went on an exceptional ride at the Haras de Jardy, one of the hallowed grounds of French equestrianism. As the clock ticked towards noon, it reached Sèvres from the National Ceramics Museum. Following a scenic river adventure in the Seine, the Forerunners headed to Île-Saint-Germain before wrapping up their segment in Issy-les-Moulineaux.
The next bit was in Rueil-Malmaison, including visits to the château and Parc Bois-Préau. The Torch Relay called at Yves de Manoir Departmental Stadium between Gennevilliers and Colombes, a symbolic halt, coming days before the first field hockey competitions are held at the stadium. Another emotionally charged moment was the journey to Mont Valérien in Suresnes, a powerful symbol of resistance and peace. The Olympic torch reached the terminus of the stage in Nanterre, zipping from Gabriel Péri Stadium to Parc André Malraux in a fun-filled atmosphere. A combination of circus acts, street theatre and dance, the Parade(s) festival added a rhythmic flair to the Torch Relay with "Cultural Olympiad" artistic performances. The cauldron was ignited against the spectacular backdrop of the Arche de la Défense.
A jaw-dropping equestrianism team relay
Nestled in the heart of the forest in Vaucresson, the Haras de Jardy club, recognised as a French Equestrian School and Centre of Competitive Excellence, trains riders of all levels. The tree-lined paths and main arena of the venue set the stage for the second team relay organised by the French Equestrian Federation. The captain of this team relay was Philippe Rozier, an experienced rider who claimed gold in the team jumping event in Rio 2016, four decades after his father Marcel. Joining him were Malaïka Balikwisha, a multiple-time French champion; Juliette Bossu, who quit a job in finance to open an equestrian centre; and Christelle François, who has managed a mounted patrol unit for the local police for over 15 years. The guest of honour was Chantal Jouanno, a former elite karateka who won the French championship twelve times and served as Minister for Youth, Sports and Community Life in 2010 and 2011.
Taekwondo also in the spotlight
The French Taekwondo Federation organised its team relay a few hours later in the streets of Gennevilliers. The department is a hotspot of this discipline and has produced numerous champions, among which are the athletes from Asnières-sur-Seine who will compete in the Paris 2024 Games. Pascal Gentil, one of the leading lights of French taekwondo, captained the relay. He became the first Frenchman to earn an Olympic medal in this sport (bronze in both Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004) and scored three victories in the World Cup and European Championships. The relay was also an opportunity to shine a light on all the schools, movers and shakers of this discipline. Other participants were the 16-year-old Médine Aliouat, who already officiates as a referee and works as a coach, as well as Faouzi Aïssa, a sixth dan instructor who helped launch the club in Suresnes and the promising Yasmine Boutahar, who dreams of competing at the Los Angeles Games in four years.
Over 200 relay runners light up Hauts-de-Seine
Among the runners were athletes who made history at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, including some who have stood atop the podium. Charles Coste, for example, is the oldest living French Olympian. A gold medallist in the team pursuit in London 1948, he turned 100 this year. There was also the swimmer Nadia Salhi, a Paralympic gold medallist in Los Angeles 1984, the fencer Frédéric Delpla, who was crowned in Seoul 1988, and Olivier Girault, who led the French handball team to gold in Beijing 2008. Other relay runners included Hakim Arezki, who clinched silver in blind football at the London 2012 Paralympics, and Pauline Déroulède, a French wheelchair tennis champion who has qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The basketball player Benjamin Sene, now competing in Nanterre, the former international footballer Laure Boulleau and the tennis champion Amélie Mauresmo, who has clinched 25 singles titles on the WTA circuit, also joined the celebration. One of the highlights was a torch kiss eagerly awaited within the Olympic family. The president of the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee, Casey Wasserman, and the president of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, Andrew Liveris, posed with the Paris 2024 torch in the streets of Boulogne-Billancourt. Other sports enthusiasts of all levels also took part in the relay. Céline Rocci (touch rugby), Nicolas Marly (para-table tennis), Adel Seddiki (triathlon), Vityapria Siscar (marathon) and François Blanckaert (volleyball) are a few examples. Also present was the singer Adèle Castillon, who is slated to perform in the grandiose concert organised by Coca-Cola tomorrow evening. Marc Maury, who hosts and provides commentary for several competitions, also had the privilege of carrying the Olympic torch.
The excitement surrounding the Olympic torch and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games reached new heights on Wednesday evening. The torch will visit Seine-Saint-Denis, the country's newest department, on Thursday, the second-last day of its journey around France. This corner of the world will set the scene for a great deal of Olympic exploits in the coming days, and tomorrow it will put on a marvellous celebration throughout a stage culminating in Parc Georges-Valbon.