Crossing the Mediterranean

On 27 April, the Olympic torch's journey across Greece will conclude in the port of Piraeus, where it will board the Belem bound for Marseille. This majestic vessel, listed as a historic monument, is France's oldest three-masted schooner. It was launched in 1896, the year of the first modern Olympic Games.

The Belem has already represented France at prestigious events such as the Statue of Liberty's centenary (1986) and Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee (2012). Its image and prestige unite French people of all generations. The old ship will cross the Mediterranean with its professional crew, completed by 15 young adults from every region of France selected for the occasion.

It will link the land of the ancient Olympic Games with the land of the Enlightenment in a truly Homeric epic. After ten days at sea, the Belem will arrive in Marseille, France's gateway to the Mediterranean and a city rich in cultural diversity. Its arrival will mark the start of the Games and the the beginning of a great public festival as the torch embarks on an exciting voyage across France.