The Olympic Torch continues to light up the Games in the Mayenne

On Wednesday 29th May, many spectators were present to cheer on the passage of the Olympic Torch through the Mayenne, with a veritable immersion in a “Land of the Games” for the relay, which continues its journey westwards. This nineteenth stage was marked by a strong sporting spirit and a deep attachment to the local area, with athletics, the ultimate Olympic sport, featured in the collective relay as a highlight.

From Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne to Laval, the day put the spotlight on the values of solidarity and passion for sport. To honour this land of great sportspeople, François Pervis, a track cyclist and Olympic medal winner, lit up the celebration cauldron at the celebration venue.

Sport, culture, wide open spaces and new technology all contribute to making the Mayenne a fine place to live

Mayenne, with its rich agricultural lands, celebrates authenticity, know-how and the pleasure of discovery. Its local culinary and craft products reflect the character and innovation of the department, paying witness to its dynamism. For almost two decades, Laval has been a leader in the development of virtual and augmented reality technologies, earning the city international recognition, thanks in particular to the Laval Virtual trade fair.

The Mayenne also excels in sport. With more than 95,000 members of 800 clubs, it is among the sportiest of France’s different departments. This popularity is no accident: the local authorities invest in quality sports facilities to encourage participating in sport for all. In anticipation of the 2024 Paris Games, the Mayenne has fully committed to this major competition. As a result, 94 municipalities have received the “Land of the Games 2024” label, 49 schools and educational establishments boast the “Generation 2024” label, and 8 preparation centres for the 2024 Olympic Games are readying themselves to welcome foreign delegations. The Mayenne is not just a land where football, cycling or horse-riding are popular; it stands out for its commitment to promoting sport in all its forms.

The Olympic Torch discovers some of the area’s most beautiful landscapes

The route revealed the verdant beauty of this area. From rolling hills to vast plains, this nineteenth stage was an invitation to travel. The Olympic Torch began its journey at the “Pendu” (hung man) lock, in Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne, offering a riverside stroll along narrow cobbled streets to the Clarisse Agbégnénou Dojo, recently inaugurated in the presence of the champion and patron of the facility. The Robert Tatin Museum, built more than 50 years ago in Cossé-le-Vivien, was the next stop for the Olympic Torch. Decorated with sculptures, paintings, gardens and buildings, this venue bears witness to Robert Tatin's travels and artistic influences.

At midday, the Olympic Torch continued its route to Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes, a major tourist attraction in the Mayenne, where it passed near to the 11th-century castle and the old, fortified village. This town of medieval origin is one of the only ones in France to have withstood against William the Conqueror. The relay then took a path behind the church in Chailland, to reach the Rocher de la Vierge outcrop that overlooks the municipality before heading into the town centre.

In the middle of the afternoon, the Olympic Torch sauntered through Mayenne, crossing the river of the same name to visit the grounds of the Château, before concluding this segment in front of the Notre-Dame-des-Miracles Basilica, a building with parts dating from the 12th, 16th and 19th centuries. Le Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson was also given pride of place, with the Olympic Torch setting out from the summit of the Mont-des-Avaloirs peak, the high point of the Armorican hills. After a day boasting plenty of discoveries, the Olympic Torch concluded the day in Laval.

The visit began at the Manuela Montebrun stadium with an athletics collective relay finishing at the offices of the Mayenne’s Olympic and Sports Committee. Afterwards, the Olympic Torch passed alongside the Saint Vénérand church, one of the city’s most beautiful Renaissance era churches, before again crossing the Mayenne River via the Pont Aristide Briand bridge.

A highlight for the historical discipline of the Olympic Games with the athletics collective relay

The collective relay, organised by the French Federation of Athletics, began at the Manuela Montebrun stadium, which is a symbolic venue because it pays homage to the only Olympic medal winner from the Mayenne. The event paid tribute to all those who take part in the discipline and to volunteers, underlining the collective dimension of sport. In the company of Manuela Montebrun, the captain of this relay, 23 people represented the diversity of athletics, with disciplines such as pole vaulting, long jump, triple jump and hurdling.

Among the participants was Manon Triguel, a former cross-country competitor and now a judge, who shared her experience. She regularly referees jumping competitions, such as the French Master's Championship in Laval. Hugo Sisternes, an athletics enthusiast since meeting Kevin Mayer in 2018, also took part in the relay. Thanks to his perseverance, Hugo became icosathlon world champion in 2021.

Bernard Rolland, a volunteer who is heavily involved in athletics in his region, was also present alongside devoted coaches such as Lauriane Berton, or Yves Mathieu, a member of the Stade Lavallois club for more than twenty years. André Giraud, the chairman of the French Federation of Athletics, had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch earlier in the day during an individual relay in Cossé-le-Viven.

This collective relay was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on a discipline with more than 300,000 club members. Athletics, often considered to be the foundation of all sports, is distinguished by its simplicity and respect.

One hundred torchbearers take part in the relay and light up the Mayenne

On Wednesday 29th May, Guy Morvan, a former top-level sportsman, had the honour of being the first to hold the Olympic Torch in Château-Gontier, giving it a morning rowing trip down the river. Several minutes later, it was the turn of Théo Moreau. Théo has been a sportsman from an early age and his main focus is training for Ironman events. In addition to his exploits, he took part in the Deaflympics in Brazil in 2022, winning the cycling time-trial title.

Other sports enthusiasts left their mark on the day. Adrien Mathis, a sports events aficionado, took over the relay in the middle of the day in Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes. His professional career has taken him to a number of prestigious events, including the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang in 2018 and Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. Katia Martinet, who has been a sport teacher for 22 years, carried the Olympic Torch along the Aristide Briand bridge in Laval. She draws inspiration from the Olympics and its values in her educational projects, making them her pet topic.

Former top-level athletes who have helped the region shine both locally and internationally also took part in this popular celebration. Such was the case for Hortense Vanessa Mballa Atangana, an athlete from Cameroon who is now a coach at the judo club in Château-Gontier and Cossé le Vivien, passing on her passion to young judokas, or Jacky Durand, a major French cycling champion who took part in the Tour de France no less than 10 times!

François Pervis, a native of Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne, also took part in the day’s relay. Having taken part in every edition of the Olympic Games from Athens to Rio, he was also a guide in para-cycling at the Tokyo Games. François, the only French person to become an Olympic and Paralympic medallist, rounded off an emotional day by lighting the celebration cauldron at the Espace Mayenne centre.

Tomorrow, the Olympic Torch will travel to the Calvados, an area brimming with green fields, coasts that were much appreciated by the impressionists and a wealth of history. The day will begin at the memorial site of Omaha Beach. Afterwards, the Olympic Torch will visit Lisieux, before journeying between Cabourg and its beaches. It will also stop at Dives-sur-Mer, Houlgate, Honfleur, Bayeux and Falaise, before finishing the day in Caen.