Olympic flame arrives in Marseille after spectacular firework and flyover display
The Olympic flame for Paris 2024 has arrived in Marseille with thousands of spectators lining the city’s Old Port to welcome the flame to France.
After departing the Greek city of Piraeus on 27 April, the Olympic flame arrived aboard the famous three-masted Belem on Wednesday (8 May) to signal the start of a day of celebrations and the prologue to the Olympic Torch Relay.
Olympic champion Florent Manaudou was given the honour of being the first Torchbearer on French soil with local rapper Jul lighting the Olympic Torch Relay cauldron to huge applause.
"Now the Games are really on," Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, IOC member and President of the Coordination Commission for Paris 2024 told Olympics.com. "This flame represents the Games returning to France after 100 years. Now every day counts.
“After years of planning, everything has become real today. With 150,000 people here, it makes people dream and is a symbol of the success of these Games, even before they have begun."
The Belem - and the Olympic flame - arrive in Marseille
The Belem made her arrival in the northern harbour of France's oldest city at approximately 11:00 local time, parading along the northern and southern harbours while accompanied by 1,024 local boats.
On land, spectators were treated to performances from the Marseille ballet company at the Château d'If, while the Patrouille de France (PAF, the Air and Space Force Presentation Teams) flew overhead, putting on a spectacular aerobatic display which featured the Olympic rings.
Étienne, Albane, Julie and Anne-Dominique had travelled from Beaujolais to see the Belem arrive in Marseille, and spoke of their delight at being able to watch the historic moment unfold.
“We didn’t want to miss this occasion”, they told Olympics.com. “We’re very proud to see the Belem. We came here especially for this event and we're going to enjoy the day. We love the Olympic atmosphere. Everyone is looking forward to the Games.”
Another onlooker, Adrien, recently arrived in Marseille and explained how he wanted to experience this “once in a lifetime” event.
Speaking to Olympics.com, he said: “It’s a beautiful procession. Majestic and moving.
“Sharing the values of Olympism is great. Coming together, opening up to others, it’s a message that deserves to be defended at this moment, in these times when we are very withdrawn into ourselves.
“It’s important to come together around an event like this,” he added.
The Belem which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France.
Before the Belem arrived in the port, French artist Naestro - nicknamed “the Pavarotti of the street” for his exceptional tenor voice - sang La Marseillaise (France’s national anthem) before the official musical anthem of Paris 2024 was unveiled by the Marseille orchestra from the Palais du Pharo.
The electronic and symphonic anthem, entitled Parade, was written and composed by Victor le Masne to embody the dynamic and universal spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Relais de la flamme des Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024, Prologue Grande Arrivée
Florent Manaudou becomes the first Paris 2024 Torchbearer in France
The Belem docked at the Old Port as London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Florent Manaudou took hold of the Olympic torch and walked on to a floating athletics track in front of thousands of spectators.
“I am extremely proud to be the first Torchbearer,” he told Olympics.com, “but the first thing I’m thinking of is sharing.
"I want to share this feeling with the 10,000 torchbearers. There are athletes, volunteers, people from very different backgrounds who will carry it. That’s what makes me proud. There is a mix, exactly like the Games, which are inclusive. I love that.”
After Manaudou passed the flame to the second Torchbearer, French Para sprinter Nantenin Keïta, local rapper Jul took possession of the torch before lighting the Olympic Torch Relay cauldron.
"I hope for many medals of all colours and for a lot of strength for the Games," Jul said to the cheering crowd.
Three-time Olympic athletics gold medallist Marie-José Pérec was also in attendance and spoke to Olympics.com about how the celebrations in Marseille represented the very spirit of the Games.
"This morning we went on a small boat with the French sailing team to go to meet the Belem it was incredible," she said. "I had goosebumps in the same way as when you are preparing to compete in the Games, when you realise what you are going to do.
"I had the exact same feeling this morning. In fact, this is exactly what we want to give to the people: these are the Games, these are the emotions. Look at that, they are all singing, and celebrating. That's the Games."
The Olympic Torch Relay set to begin in Marseille
The first stage of the Olympic Torch Relay will begin tomorrow (Thursday 9 May) in Marseille, with renowned sports stars including four-time NBA champion Tony Parker, UEFA Champions League winner Didier Drogba, and Rio 2016 canoe slalom gold medallist Denis Gargaud Chanut carrying the Olympic torch throughout the city.
The relay in Marseille marks the start of a 69-day relay throughout France and her overseas departments, with the Olympic flame visiting over 450 towns and cities before reaching Paris on 26 July where it will be used to light the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
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