Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay: Facts and figures

"On Friday 23 June, the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 unveiled the next Olympic Torch Relay route in a historical and symbolic place, at the Sorbonne University, where Pierre de Coubertin held the founding speech for the Modern Olympic Games.

It will start in Olympia on 16 April 2024 with the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille on 8 May from Athens, Greece, after travelling by sea onboard the full-rigged ship Belem.

“At Paris 2024, with more than two months of uninterrupted festivities, we’ll live a magnificent adventure together, all over the territory, with millions of French people in the wake of the Games,” declared Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.

When asked for three words to characterise the Torch Relay, Estanguet chose: "Spectacular – we want to make people dream, we want to show a France that shines. National – we’re lucky to have strong support from all regions. Sporting – it’s really important to celebrate sport in the whole country and make it more sporting."

Amélie Oudéa-Castera, Minister for Sport and the Olympic & Paralympic Games said: "It's going to be beautiful! For months and years, the local collectivities have been very involved in the organisatiom of these Games, which will run in seven regions and 11 departments. These are the most decentralised Games ever in history and it was important to have the overseas territories covered. This part of the relay is also going to be wonderful."

Olympic gold medallist, swimmer Florent Manaudou, leader of one of the relays said: "It's incredible to be captain. When you are a kid discovering the Games, you see the sporting part but also the Olympic torch, which is highly symbolic. I am very happy to showcase all the amazing landscapes we have in France."

Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said: "Paris is shining. It's the symbol of a free city, a wonderful city, the most beautiful city in the world. I am very proud to have driven this bid and brought back the Games in Paris.

"The flame is the energy of a country, the will to be together. The Torch Relay is preparation for the Opening Ceremony, it's a national story telling, which brings us together. In this story telling, there are landscapes, territories, nature, the beauty of the sites and our diverse cultures."

Discover all the facts and figures of the next Olympic Torch Relay.

• The torchbearer selection process is about to begin
• Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay: Route unveiled
• What is the Olympic flame and the Torch relay?

Key figures from the Olympic Torch Relay

• 16 April, 2024: Olympic flame lit in Olympia, Greece
• 8 May, 2024: Arrival of the flame in France, in Marseille
• 68 days of Olympic Torch Relay on French territory
• 65 territories involved in the Olympic Torch Relay
  • Including six overseas territories (Guadeloupe, French Guyane, Martinique, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Réunion)
• More than 400 cities will be crossed including 64 stage cities
• 10,000 Torch bearers
• 3,000 Torch bearers will participate at Team Relays
• 26 July, 2024: Opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
• 200 metres: the average distance covered by an Olympic Torch bearer

Until 30 June, Club Paris 2024 members can nominate someone they know who fulfills the selection criteria. Five hundred will be lucky enough to carry the precious Olympic flame. Visit https://www.paris2024.org/en/torchbearers/ to know more about participation in the Olympic Torch Relay.

READ ALSO - What is the Olympic Flame and the Torch Relay?