Almost 9,500 km from mainland France, Réunion is a unique island nestled in the Indian Ocean. Its volcanic massifs and coasts make it a natural gem where its denizens, who hail from all over the world, are known for their harmonious coexistence. The Olympic torch will begin its tour of Réunion in Saint-Paul. The lantern used to ignite the torch will come by sea to the landing pier of the first settlement, where the first torch of the day will be lit.

From there, the Olympic flame will head to Pointe de Langevin for a one-kilometre relay. A relay runner will drive home the fact that this is the southernmost point of the European Union by going through the GPS coordinates representing it. The Olympic torch will then go to Saint-Pierre, the "southern capital" of the island, whose shores are the starting point of the legendary Diagonale des Fous. From Le Tampon, it will go towards the Plaine des Sables, whose lunar landscape has come to epitomise the island's volcanic activity. The torch will then travel through Saint-Benoît and Sainte-Suzanne, where it will reach Le Bocage Intermunicipal White-Water Stadium. Overall, the torch will visit four district administrative centres before wrapping up its tour of the island in Saint-Denis.

Celebrations in Saint-Denis

You can never have too much of Saint-Denis! Founded in 1669, the town is the most populous commune in the French overseas departments. The economic hub of Réunion, stretching from the coast to the mountains, boasts a wide range of sports and leisure facilities—all of which will be on display during the torch's visit, which kicks off at the Champ-Fleuri Velodrome.

From Le Barachois, a seafront corniche, the torch will go up the city's main thoroughfare, the Rue de Paris, which is lined with historical monuments, colonial homes, museums, and Creole villas. It will blaze past the Artothèque, a wooden Creole villa that has become a hotspot of contemporary art, and the Léon Dierx Museum, Réunion's sole museum of fine arts. Finally, the Olympic torch will pass through the State Garden, created by the East India Company in 1773. This 4-hectare botanical garden will host the end-of-day ceremony opposite the Natural History Museum. The cauldron will be lit as the gathering crowds are invited to celebrate the values of Olympism.