Halle Berry, Arsene Wenger, Sue Bird, Charles Leclerc: Key highlights, top celebrities and best moments as the Olympic Torch Relay heads to Paris
With 12 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Olympic flame arrives in Paris for two days of festivities.
Before arriving in the French capital, the Olympic flame has covered thousands of miles and travelled all over the country: from mainland France to Corsica, via the overseas territories on the Relais des Océans. It was an opportunity to unite a whole nation, spreading excitement and joy as the Olympic Games edges closer.
Discover the highlights of the first 56 stages of the Olympic Torch Relay, from the celebrities who've carried the Olympic torch to the thousands of people who've lined the route.
Top 10 celebrities who've carried the Olympic torch to Paris
A total of 10,000 people will have carried the Olympic torch across France ahead of Paris 2024, from its arrival on the Belem in Marseille on 8 May to its final destination at the Opening Ceremony on 26 July. Discover the 10 biggest stars who have held aloft the Olympic flame so far.
Men
- Charles Leclerc (F1 driver): Stage 34, Alpes-Maritimes
- Arsene Wenger (Former Arsenal and Monaco manager): Stage 41, Alsace
- Antoine Dupont (France rugby player): Stage 9, Haute-Garonne
- Shaun White (US snowborder and skater, three-time Olympic gold medallist): Stage 34, Alpes-Maritimes
- Tony Parker (Former basketball player for France): Stage 1, Marseille
Women
- Halle Berry (US actress): Stage 34, Alpes-Maritimes
- Megan Rapinoe (Former US football player, two-time Olympic medallist): Stage 34, Alpes-Maritimes
- Sue Bird (Former US basketball player, five-time Olympic gold medallist): Stage 34, Alpes-Maritimes
- Perrine Laffont (Skier for France, Olympic Gold medallist): Stage 7, Pyrénées-Orientales
- Anne-Sophie Pic (most decorated Michelin-starred female chef): Stage 36, Drôme
Spectators turn out in force across France
Stage after stage, the excitement surrounding the passing of the Olympic flame never ran out of steam. Spectators gathered all along the route and enjoyed entertainment at the end of each day at the celebration sites. Some even redoubled their efforts by dressing up in regional costumes to showcase their area, as was the case in Brittany, Corsica, French Guiana and Polynesia.
And there was plenty of emotion, both among the torchbearers and the spectators watching on.
"It's wonderful to see all these smiles, all these people coming together around... the Olympic flame and all the values it represents", said singer M. Pokora, a torchbearer for stage 41 in Alsace.
"Doing it at home, in Strasbourg, is an honur and an immense source of pride. These are very strong emotions, it's a bit inexplicable," she added.
The same sentiment was echoed by singer Olivia Ruiz, who completed her relay in Carcassonne on stage 8. "To experience this in the town where I was born, at the foot of the city where I made my debut as an artist... I've got tears in my throat, it's a lot," she said.
Some spectators even travelled thousands of miles to be able to join in the fun. Such was the case for the Dronet family, who made the trip from New York to return to their Vendée roots for the stage 24.
"It's an event of a lifetime, especially for the kids" said Sylvain, father of Joseph, Rose and Sacha (aged 7-11). "There's a great atmosphere. We're very happy to be here."
The Torch Relay has already succeeded in its aim of uniting an entire population around the values of sport and togetherness.
A relay that showcases French sport and heritage
As well as bringing together a whole nation, the Olympic Torch Relay provides a unique opportunity to combine sport and heritage, and to showcase them to millions of people watching around the world.
Olympic Torch Relays underwater, on rollerblades, and... on horseback!
Athletes from all over France redoubled their efforts when it was their turn to carry the Olympic torch.
Among the highlights was freediver Alice Modolo in Villefranche-sur-Mer on stage 34 who fetched the torch from a depth of more than twenty meters and brought it to the surface, bringing fire and water together in a beautiful spectacle. A magical moment, which you can re-live in the gallery below.
On the surface of the water, the torch was carried by surfers at Pointe de la Torche in Finistère (stage 34) and Biarritz (stage 12), but it also crossed lakes and stretches of sea by canoe, kayak and boat in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region.
We also witnessed relays by top athletes on land and in the air, too.
Taïg Khris rollerbladed on the Pont de Millau, double Olympic champion Quentin Fillon Maillet skiied in the Doubs (stage 40) and there was horseback riding on Omaha Beach (stage 20).
The Olympic flame took to the skies with the collective climbing relay in Alpes de Haute Provence (stage 3), and on a zip-line with judoka Loïc Pietri at La Colmiane (stage 34).
Pic du Canigou to Mont-Saint-Michel: an Olympic Torch Relay with breathtaking scenery
Above all, the Olympic Torch Relay took in some magnificent scenery.
The Olympic torch was held aloft at the summit of Aiguille du Midi in Haute-Savoie (stage 39), Pic du Canigou (stage 7), and at the Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the Hautes-Pyrénées (stage 12). The route also showcased the richness of French heritage, passing by Mont-Saint-Michel, the cliffs of Etretat, the Château de Chambord and the Colorado Provençal at Rustrel.
It also spent time underground, in caves at Lascaux, and took time to revel in the majestic beauty of the French overseas territories with its shimmering crystal clear turquoise waters.
See the most beautiful images of the Olympic Torch Relay so far in the gallery below.
Highlights of the first 56 stages of the Olympic Torch Relay
The Torch Relay is a meticulously organised event, but as the saying goes, nothing can prepare you for the unexpected. Here's a look back at the most memorable moments from the first 56 stages.
Marriage proposal, torch kiss... Moving moments along the way
On Wednesday 5 June the Olympic Torch Relay passed through Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire in Loire-Atlantique, and one of the day's torchbearers, Raphaël Vriet, took spectators - and his partner - by total surprise.
Just after lighting his torch, he handed it over to a member of security, then stopped for a moment to join his girlfriend in the crowd.
While spectators waited in baited breath to see what was happening, he pulled an engagement ring from his pocket and asked her hand in marriage.
It was a yes. The two lovers kissed, and after a loud cheer in front of dozens of flashing cameras, the relay went back on its way.
Centenary Torchbearers
It wasn't just the newly-engaged couple that made a lasting impression on the relay.
The Olympic Torch Relay has so far seen three centenarians become Torchbearers. Albert Corrieri, who was about to celebrate his 102nd birthday, raised the torch aloft in Marseille while Mélanie Volle - the oldest living Olympian - created a stir in the Loire at 102 years old.
Roger Lebranchu, France's oldest living Olympian, lit the cauldron at Mont-Saint-Michel on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It was a poignant occasion for the 101-year-old champion, who represented France in rowing at London 1948 after being deported to Germany.
While during the 41st stage in Alsace, a torchbearer was able to enter the hemicycle (debating chamber) of the Council of Europe, a first for a parliamentary building. The flame sparkled in the midst of leaders, parliamentarians and PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, who was delighted to be able to "welcome the Olympic flame of peace in the cradle of human rights."
"Have a good trip to Paris", he said.
You can follow the Olympic Torch Relay on Olympics.com.