The Olympic torch explores the secrets of Réunion, the Intense Island
The Olympic torch dropped anchor on the island of Réunion to continue its Ocean Relay in overseas France. The "Intense Island" put its best foot forward, starting with the jaw-dropping landscapes of the Plaine des Sables and Pointe Langevin.
A kaleidoscopic journey through lush panoramas worked its charm on the relay as it went through Saint-Paul, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Benoît and Saint-Denis, the administrative centres of the four districts that make up the island. A hundred Forerunners or so passed on the Olympic torch on Wednesday, 12 June, including the legendary handball player Daniel Narcisse, who ended the stage on a high note when he lit the celebration cauldron in his home city of Saint-Denis.
The Ocean Relay, one of the most striking chapters of the Torch Relay, sails on
Paris 2024 has teamed up with the Partners of the Torch Relay —Coca-Cola, Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne— to bring the event to the masses through the Ocean Relay. On its voyage to the overseas territories, which add colourful strands to the unique tapestry of France, the Olympic torch brings this huge popular celebration to as many French people as possible and takes the preparations for the Games to the four corners of the world.
On 7 June, the Olympic torch began a grand adventure that will last until 17 June and take it to five overseas territories in three of the five oceans of the world. Last Sunday, it called at French Guiana, in the Atlantic Ocean, and on Wednesday, 12 June, it has shined a light on Réunion, in the Indian Ocean. French Polynesia, in the Pacific Ocean, will take centre stage tomorrow. The Olympic torch will return to the Atlantic Ocean to visit Guadeloupe on 15 June and Martinique on 17 June.
The "Intense Island" has a distinct allure
Cruising 9,500 kilometres from metropolitan France, the Olympic torch lived an extraordinary day on which it discovered the crown jewels of unique, boundless landscapes. It explored a pristine environment and highlighted the authentic character of an island with an art of living together that is nothing short of remarkable. The Olympic torch burned on the landing pier of the first settlement in Saint-Paul, which appears to hover above the waves and is the place where the first explorers came ashore on Réunion.
It advanced to Saint-Pierre, which hosts the start of the Diagonale des Fous ultramarathon race, where runners from across the globe flock every year to tackle this daring challenge. After blazing past Saint-Benoît and the Jean Allane Stadium, followed by Sainte-Suzanne and the Le Bocage Intermunicipal White-Water Stadium, a certified Paris 2024 preparation centre, the Olympic torch arrived in Saint-Denis, the biggest city in overseas France. Zipping down the corniche, it went down the main thoroughfare of the city, lined by historical monuments, colonial homes and museums, including L'Artothèque, which is dedicated to contemporary art, and the Léon Dierx Museum, the oldest on the island. In another brush with history, the Olympic torch brought the day to a close in the State Garden, created by the East India Company in 1773.
The island's volcanic massifs and coasts make it a natural gem. This stage was a golden opportunity to shine a light on these remarkable places, starting with the Plaine des Sables in Sainte-Rose. The "Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island" have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. Once in Saint-Joseph, the Olympic torch headed to Pointe Langevin, the southernmost point of the Torch Relay. From Le Tampon, it set out from the Centre for Sports Resources, Expertise and Performance (CREPS) towards the Grands Kiosques car park, stopping at the Cité du Volcan, an international touristic, educational and scientific hub.
Sporting legends represent Réunion
Mireille Faïn got the action going as the first rays of sun pierced the night in Sainte-Rose. The former water polo player swelled with pride as she held the Olympic torch aloft at 7 am. Now working as a primary school teacher, she remains as dedicated as ever through her engagement as a volunteer firefighter and her involvement in her local athletics club. The oldest member of the Réunion Athletics League, the 85-year-old Marie-Thérèse Georget, came out to play in Saint-Denis, the last stop on this segment. Still running 12 kilometres a day with her club, she received an especially loud applause from the public.
Alizée Morel also made the crowds go wild on Quai Gilbert in Saint-Paul. The female flag bearer of the Réunion delegation for the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games (JIOI) in Madagascar is the most decorated athlete across all sports and nations, amassing 28 medals. Fans then got to admire Jérémy Basquaise, the captain of the French beach soccer team, from Boulevard du Front de Mer.
As the morning wound to a close, Jackson Richardson, the former captain of the French handball team, a bronze medallist in Barcelona 1992 and a two-time world champion in 1995 and 2001, had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch in his home city of Saint-Pierre. Mathieu Bon, a three-time French U20 champion in the shot put and long jump, had the same privilege in Sainte-Suzanne, on the northern coast of the island. The 19-year-old man with Asperger syndrome was once again a source of inspiration for those around him.
Over 120 relay runners took turns illuminating the "Intense Island" throughout the day, including the French fencer Kelly Lusinier and Teddy Riner's minder, Myriam Chomaz. Chomaz, a brilliant champion in her own right, from savate to boxing, has fought hard to raise the profile of women's sports and promote disabled boxing. Finally, the stage ended with a flourish with Daniel Narcisse, one of the most popular and successful athletes in France. A legendary handball player, he has won numerous medals with the French national team, with two Olympic golds, four world championships and three European championships in his trophy cabinet.
Gymnastics swings onto the stage in Saint-Denis
Much like the Olympic Torch, the French Gymnastics Federation has ties to the entire nation, bringing together 325,000 passionate licence-holders from 1,400 clubs in metropolitan and overseas France. It is a powerful unifying force.
A new gymnastics team relay took place on Wednesday on Réunion, an island known for its fertile ground for gymnasts. Spectators were treated to a variety of displays spotlighting Olympic gymnastics disciplines as part of the celebrations.
Under the aegis of the French Gymnastics Federation, 23 people, including champions, daily warriors, volunteers and more, flanked the relay captain, Elvire Teza. The former French national team champion was the first French woman to make it to an Olympic final in artistic gymnastics. Her achievements include appearances in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
The Ocean Relay will continue its grand adventure tomorrow, almost 15,000 kilometres away in French Polynesia. The light of the Olympic torch will glisten in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, 13 June. From Teahupoo to Pape'ete, it will drop anchor in each of these five archipelagos kissed by nature.