Paris 2024: Tony Parker, Louisa Necib, Didier Drogba… who are the Olympic Torch Relay Torchbearers in Marseille?
By Céline Penicaud3 min|
Get ready... the Olympic flame is set to arrive in France!
After 12 days at sea, the three-masted Belem - which has been home to the Olympic flame for its journey across the Mediterranean - will arrive in the Old Port of Marseille shortly before 19:00 CET on 8 May.
Olympic champion Florent Manaudou will hold the Olympic torch aloft and become the first Torchbearer on French soil, ahead of the start of the Olympic Torch Relay the following day.
The French swimmer will be the first in a long line of sporting stars to take part in the relay. Here are some of the other Torchbearers who will raise the Olympic flame high in Marseille.
Torchbearers in Marseille
Olympic athletes
- Tony Parker: France international basketball player (2000-2016), four NBA titles with San Antonio Spurs, European champion 2013
- Nando de Colo: France international basketball player (2008-to date), silver medallist at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
- Frédérick Bousquet: Former swimmer of the Cercle des nageurs de Marseille, silver medallist at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008
- Fabien Gilot: Swimmer of the Cercle des nageurs de Marseille, Olympic champion at the Olympic Games London 2012
- Sébastien Foucras: Freestyle skier, silver medallist at the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998
- Pascale Trinquet-Hachin: First French fencer to become individual Olympic champion with gold at the Olympic Games Moscow 1980, born in Marseille
- Denis Gargaud Chanut: Olympic champion at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, part of the Club de Marseille Mazargues
- Vincent Matheron: Captain of the France skateboarding team, born in Marseille
Footballers
- Eric Di Meco: Olympique de Marseille defender (1980-1994), former France international
- Jean-Pierre Papin: Olympique de Marseille striker (1986-1992), former France international
- Basile Boli: Olympique de Marseille defender (1990-1994), former France international
- Didier Drogba: Olympique de Marseille striker (2003-2004), former Cote d’Ivoire international
- Valentin Rongier: Olympique de Marseille midfielder
- Louisa Necib: Lyon and France international midfielder, born in Marseille
Artists
- Soprano: Hip hop artist, from Marseille
- Redouane Bougheraba: Comedian, from Marseille
- Nicole Ferroni: Actress and comedian, from Marseille
- Adda Abdelli: Co-founder and co-writer of French series “Vestiaires”
- Alonzo: Hip hop artist, from Marseille
- Camille Combal: Radio and TV presenter
- Alexandre Mazzia: 3 Michelin star chef based in Marseille, one of three main chefs at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Village
Other notable Torchbearers