Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay: The torchbearer selection process is about to begin

In 2024, France will welcome the Olympic flame for the third time, following the Winter Olympic Games Grenoble 1968 and the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Albertville 1992 (the first Olympic Torch Relay took place 12 years after the Paris 1924 Games).

This Tuesday, 30 May, the Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 announced the selection process for the 10,000 torchbearers of the next Olympic Games (see below).

After being lit in Olympia, Greece, the route of the Olympic flame will start its journey on sea, on board the Belem, a magnificent three-masted ship that will cross the Mediterranean from Athens to Marseille. The Olympic Torch Relay will then showcase the regions of France, from the mainland to its overseas departments and territories, offering everyone the opportunity to see the torch.

The full route of the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay will be revealed on 23 June.

Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay: Who will the 10,000 torchbearers be?

In 2024, around 10,000 people will have the honour of being chosen to be a torchbearer, spreading a message of positivity and enthusiasm across the world. The torchbearers will be selected on the basis of their commitment, dedication and actions to bring life to at least one of the three energies of Paris 2024.

• The first energy relates to sport and the Games: the energy of the athletes, volunteers and amateur sports people from various sports associations, and everyone who is part of the Games as a volunteer, the employees of various partners, and all the people who have been committed to the Paris Games since the adventure began.
• The second energy relates to communities, symbolised by those who are running businesses, innovating, creating and embodying French excellence across all sectors throughout France.
• Finally, the third energy relates to the collective and will be showcased by the selection of torchbearers who take action every day to build a more inclusive, sustainable and fair society with a stronger focus on solidarity.

The torchbearers of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games will represent the importance of diversity within society: men and women, people of different races, public figures, people selected from the public at large and those with disabilities will all take part, promoting a more inclusive society.

“From the beginning of the Olympic Torch Relay, we want to include people with disabilities,” said Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.

Thanks to their ability to mobilise millions of collaborators, the corporate partners of the Olympic Games will also play an important role, including the two official sponsors of the Torch Relay: Coca-Cola and Banque Populaire - Caisse d'Epargne.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay and Paralympic Torch Relay will be the “Forerunners Relays”. These Forerunners will pave the way for the celebrations in 2024 and showcase the beauty of France’s natural and cultural heritage.

The Forerunners are all those who are committed to ensuring the success of the Paris 2024 Games Torch Relay, and all those who are getting ready to welcome it: Paris 2024 partners, communities, sporting movement stakeholders, public sector organisations, Club Paris 2024 members and members of the general public who will be mobilised along the whole route to celebrate the arrival of the Games.

“The forerunners will have a strong responsibility to make magic across the majority of the territory,” added Estanguet.

Paris 2024 Torch Relay: Four captains will carry the flame

Paris 2024 has named four captains for the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, including two Olympians and two Paralympians: Laure Manaudou, Florent Manaudou, Mona Francis and Dimitri Pavadé.

• Laure Manaudou won three Olympic medals in swimming at Athens 2004, including gold in the 400m freestyle, silver in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 100m backstroke.
• Florent Manaudou won four Olympic medals in swimming, including gold in the 50m freestyle at London 2012, silver in 50m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle at Rio 2016 and silver in the 50m freestyle at Tokyo 2020.
• Dimitri Pavadé won a silver medal in the long jump (T64) at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
• Mona Francis came sixth in the Paratriathlon at Tokyo 2020.

Each of these four athletes will be part of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, with more information following on 23 June.

“Being an ambassador alongside my brother is even more beautiful,” said Laure Manaudou. “Both of these symbols of peace and respect in sport are very important to me.”

Pavadé was equally excited by the prospect of being involved in the relay, saying: "It's incredible to be one of the captains of the Paris 2024 Torch Relay."

Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay: How to apply and nominate someone you know?

Paris 2024 is launching a selection process with members of Club Paris 2024. Each member can nominate someone they know that would like to see holding the Olympic Torch. It is a unique opportunity to give someone the chance to enjoy an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Being on the front line of the torch route left its mark on me," said Luca Bertacchi, a former torchbearer at the Olympic Winter Games Turin 2006 and photographer at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010. “As soon as I held the flame in Turin I immediately began running, as if I had been possessed by something."

Here is the information you need to know before nominating someone:

• Those nominating must be at least 15 years old at the time of the campaign and the person they nominate also needs to be at least 15 years old
• Those nominating must be a member of Club Paris 2024 (or become one when completing the nomination)
• Those nominated need to meet the criteria of being a torchbearer (as explained in the above section ‘Who will the 10,000 torchbearers be?)

Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay: When does the selection process begin?

The nomination campaign will begin on 1 June 2023 and end on 30 June 2023. At the end of the campaign, 5,000 candidates will be chosen in a draw to be analysed by selection panels across mainland France and French overseas territories. Those fortunate enough to be selected will receive an official email at the beginning of 2024 to confirm their participation.

From 1 June 2023, visit the Paris 2024 Torch Relay website to nominate someone you know and offer them the opportunity of a lifetime to be a torchbearer at Paris 2024.

Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch Relay: How to be a torchbearer?

The Paralympic flame will once again be lit in the location it first burst into life, in Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain. At the end of August 2024, the Paralympic flame will cross the Channel for a relay in France before reaching Paris to ignite the cauldron during the Opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

The torchbearers will be selected directly by Paris 2024. During the torchbearer nomination process for the Olympic Games, Paris 2024 will gather information on candidates who wish to be a torchbearer for the Paralympic Games.