On Sunday, 23 June, Haute-Savoie will have the special honour of welcoming the Olympic torch to the department—and on Olympic Day no less! The relay will celebrate sport all day long in the heart of the region, ranked as the second most touristic department in all of France thanks to its vast ski areas, impressive spa resorts, and world-famous lakes.

The Olympic torch will begin the relay of Haute-Savoie in Évian-les-Bains and cross Parc Dollfus. The next stops will be Héry-sur-Alby and Annemasse. It will also rise to the Glières Plateau, an important site of the French resistance during World War II. The torch will then head to Cluses and Excenevex before wrapping up the stage in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

Celebrations in Chamonix

The celebrations in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc will end the day on a high note. In a way, the relay is coming full circle, as the town hosted the first Olympic Winter Games back in 1924. A century later, the Olympic flame will burn once again in the town centre on Olympic Day. The torch has a packed itinerary in Chamonix, including a stop at Le Montenvers Station, from which a rack railway rises all the way to the Mer de Glace.

It will then pound the tarmac on the forecourt of the sky tram linking the town centre to the Aiguille du Midi, whose peak reaches 3,842 metres. The Olympic torch will also visit the site of the former speed skating oval, inaugurated in 1924. Finally it will go to Place du Mont-Blanc, found at the centre of Chamonix and near cultural venues such as the Alpin Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Alpine Museum. The square will host the end-of-day celebrations.

Celebration venue info

Come and celebrate the passing of the Olympic flame in Chamonix !

The celebration site is free and open to all from 3.30pm to 7.45pm at the following address: PLACE DU MONT BLANC, 74400 CHAMONIX

A festive programme open to all awaits you, including :

• events organised by the local authorities: sport, music, shows, etc.
• stands run by the Relay of the Flame sponsors:
  • Coca-Cola will be providing a musical and festive atmosphere
  • Banque Populaire will be giving the public the chance to try out water sports
  • Caisse d'Epargne will be dedicating its stand to basketball and handball
• a show organised by the sponsors on the sports slab from 6 p.m.
• 7.20pm: the arrival of the last torchbearer and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, a moment not to be missed!

Note: a giant screen, a host and a DJ will also be on hand to get the public in the mood for the Torch Relay!