Maine-et-Loire, where sport meets culture
Stage 18 of the Olympic Torch Relay took it to the jaw-dropping Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its route began in Baugé-en-Anjou —famous for its marvellous château— and came to a close in Angers, providing a golden opportunity to discover the "Athens of the West".
Following a table tennis team relay held in La Romagne during the afternoon, the Artistic Director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Thomas Jolly, lit the cauldron in a celebration of the Angevin cultural scene.
A fascinating stage in Maine-et-Loire, a charming department where life is good and people are mad about sports
The appeal of Maine-et-Loire lies in its picture-postcard landscapes sprinkled with valleys, vineyards and châteaux. It contains 89 sensitive natural areas spanning a total of 72,300 hectares and is known for equestrianism, including the prestigious Cadre Noir in Saumur, an equestrian school that has kept the French tradition of excellence alive since 1815.
The stage was a love letter to the region, with lines evoking culture, heritage and sport! As the sun rose over the horizon, the Olympic torch illuminated the apothecary of the Hôtel-Dieu in Baugé, taking in the floral notes of the medicinal plants grown in the Jardin des Simples. This former hospital is classified as a historic monument and famous for its collection of remedies. The Olympic torch then continued its trip down memory lane in Montsoreau, including a stop at its château, whose architecture is a harmonious amalgam of medieval and Renaissance styles.
It is now home to a contemporary art museum. Le Lion-d'Angers hosted the relay in the Parc de l'Isle Briand, a slice of nature where the past comes alive through its 18th-century château and its stables. After that, the Olympic torch took a detour to visit the Le Lion-d'Angers racecourse, famous for obstacle races such as the Anjou-Loire Challenge. After the Saint-Émilion wine-making region on 23 May, today it shone a light on the Coteaux du Layon and their AOC.
Its visit to La Romagne was a chance to showcase the René Hervouet sports complex, which set the stage for the team relay, before advancing to Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, zipping past the abbey church perched atop Mont Glonne. In Angers, recognised as a "city where life is good", the torch got going from the Josette and Roger Mikulak Sports Park, a 140,000 m² sports complex. Snaking alongside Parc Balzac, the convoy also visited the medieval castle, an iconic landmark constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries.
La Romagne celebrates table tennis with the club La Stella
Boasting over 210,000 licence-holders and around 4 million occasional players, the French Table Tennis Federation organised this team relay to etch its name in the history of the Paris 2024 Games and promote Olympic values with the Olympic torch.
The selection of La Romagne and the club La Stella was a deliberate one. For over two decades, this club has been a cornerstone of men's table tennis in France. Its major achievements include a Europa Cup victory after being three-time finalists and a Pro A championship title in 2018. Located in a village of just 1,500 residents, La Stella has built a reputation for its family spirit and sporting excellence. Nearly 200 students and table tennis enthusiasts from Maine-et-Loire gathered in the mid-afternoon to witness this event, showcasing the diversity and various forms of the sport.
Patrick Chila, a doubles medallist at the 2000 Olympics, was selected to captain this team relay. Joining him were Matéo Bohéas, the Paralympic silver medallist in para-table tennis at the Tokyo 2020 Games; Guy Soulard, co-chair of the La Stella club; Christophe Legout, a former member of the French "Musketeers" team and current competition director for the French Table Tennis Federation; and Audrey Le Morvan, a former top-top-flight player. Together, they made this an unforgettable celebration of the sport.
Cultural Olympiad events pay tribute to the vibrant culture of Anjou
The Olympic torch criss-crossed the capital of Anjou, famous for its half-timbered houses and its botanical garden, a 4-hectare verdant patch in the heart of the city. The Cultural Olympiad boosted the iconic spots of Angers, especially Le Quai — Centre Dramatique National. Further down the road, the Centre National de Danse Contemporaine (CNDC) and the Cœur-de-Maine esplanade, with its vast green spaces and riverbanks accessible to all, were also part of the project.
The CNDC jumped on the opportunity provided by this stage of the relay to organise two events celebrating dance. A dance parade led by Bruce Chiefare and a crew of urban dance enthusiasts took centre stage to bring the action-packed "Generation Break" to a vibrant close. Meanwhile, the Soulshine Open Arts collective put on hip-hop dance displays, DJ sets and workshops on the forecourt of Le Quai.
Thomas Jolly, the prominent live entertainment specialist and artistic director for the four Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies, lit the cauldron at the nearby celebration venue, just a stone's throw from the Quai du CDN. It was a poignant gesture for the adopted local, who spent two years at the helm of the centre.
Nearly a hundred torchbearers fill Maine-et-Loire with light
Around a hundred torchbearers carried the Olympic torch across the department on Tuesday, 28 May. Sandrine Brossais, a sports enthusiast from a young age, got the show on the road. Meanwhile, Hamidou Maiga brought the first segment to a close in Baugé-en-Anjou. Supported by the department through child welfare services, a few months ago, young Hamidou won the 2023 silver medal in the Best Apprentice competition for CAP (vocational aptitude certificate) in fashion — loose clothing, showing that young people in dire situations can overcome their challenges and shine.
Vanina Paoletti, an elite kayaker who competed in Tokyo and a Team Anjou 2024 member, carried the Olympic torch in Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, representing women's sports in Maine-et-Loire. Roland Dalifard, a charismatic icon of civic engagement and local activities, joined this incredible collective celebration in Le Lion-d'Angers too.
Spectators caught a glimpse of the multiple-time Paralympic long jump medallist Arnaud Assoumani and the French international handball player Manon Houette, an Olympic silver medallist, among the torchbearers, with Houette running her leg near Parc Balzac. Not long after, Marie-Amélie Le Fur, a three-time Paralympic champion and an ambassador for her sport as the president of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, symbolically took up the torch.
Tomorrow, the relay will venture into Mayenne, a lush and appealing corner of the world. The Olympic torch will illustrate its art of living and fine cuisine throughout its route. The stage will get going in Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne and call at Cossé-le-Vivien before heading to Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes, recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Its journey will continue in Chailland and Mayenne. The visit to Mont-des-Avaloirs, the highest peak in West France, will be another key milestone. Finally, the stage will reach its terminus in the vibrant city of Laval.