Global (Commonwealth) _ The Flame’s arrival in Marseille is the result of a group’s goal. With the backing of the French government, Paris 2024, the City of Marseille, the Metropolis of Aix-Marseille-Provence, the Department of Bouches-du-Rhône, and the Southern Region have united to transform this historic occasion, joining forces with the sponsors of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola, Banque Populaire, and Caisse d’Epargne.
Following a 12-day Mediterranean voyage in the Belem, the three-mast vessel primarily sponsored by Caisse d’Epargne, the Olympic Flame arrived in Marseille’s Old Port at 7 p.m. local time on May 8. There, it was greeted by a legendary trio of the country’s first torchbearers: Florent Manaudou,
JuL and Nantenin Keita. On a stunning and joyous day in Marseille, the first stopover for the Olympic Torch Relay in France, more than 150,000 people welcomed the Flame’s arrival at the Old Port in the presence of the President of the Republic. An emotional, surprising, and proud look back at this momentous day is presented here.
Three symbolic and cohesive profiles—Florent Manaudou, Nantenin Keita, and JuL—will carry the Flame in the Old Port. The Belem moored in the Old Port at around 7:45 p.m. local time following a day of parades, amid the enthusiasm of the numerous Olympique de Marseille supporters in attendance.
This historic Flame arrival in France made it crucial for Paris 2024 to select an Olympian to be the first torchbearer. The Olympic Torch was taken out of its case—a distinctive trunk created especially for Louis Vuitton—by swimmer and four-time medalist Florent Manaudou, the relay’s captain, before being lit with a flashlight.
A native of Marseille by adoption and member of the Cercle des nageurs de Marseille, Florent Manaudou symbolically handed the torch to Paralympic champion and four-time medalist Nantenin Keita in the 100, 200, and 400 meters. She has already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and is adamant about the inclusion of those with impairments in society.
Two Olympic and Paralympic athletes have been selected by Paris 2024 to carry the Flame to Marseille, just as it was in Athens when French Olympians and Paralympians Gabriella Papadakis and Béatrice Hess handed the torch. The goal of Paris 2024 is to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games closer together, and this first handover on French soil represents that goal.
The Old Port’s center stage cauldron was ignited by singer JuL, who received applause from the audience before Nantenin Keita gave her the torch. An eminent Marseille native has been selected by Paris 2024 to embody the enthusiasm, vitality, and joyous atmosphere that define the Olympic Torch Relay. Millions of admirers around France are drawn to the music of this Marseille native, who continues to reside there.
Similar to our Olympians and Paralympians, he has achieved unprecedented record sales, with over 8.2 million CDs sold in a decade, which is the biggest amount in French rap history and the last ten years for any musical genre. JuL, a prominent character in Marseille, was an obvious candidate to compete in the event’s opening leg, which serves as the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games.
Following her departure on April 27 from the Greek port of Piraeus, the Belem arrived in Marseille early on May 8, carrying 16 dedicated Forerunners ranging in age from 17 to 25 and carrying 3 Angels of the Flame who underwent a rare 12-day Mediterranean Sea voyage. The globe saw these striking and breathtaking photos of the Belem at sea during its transit via the Corinth Canal and the Straits of Messina! At around 11 a.m. local time, the three-mast schooner arrived in Marseille’s northern harbor, marking the beginning of an amazing six-hour procession across the city’s north and south harbors. A magnificent fleet of 1,024 nearby boats joined the Belem as it paraded around the coast from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to commemorate the arrival of the three-mast ship and her crew.
The Olympic Torch Relay across France will begin with this concert, capping off a day full of thrills and emotions! Up to the Olympic Opening Ceremony on July 26, the Olympic Flame and its 10,000 torchbearers will travel 17,000 kilometers and pass through more than 450 communities throughout France and its overseas territories in a 69-day tour. On the schedule: events, meetings, presenting the history and skills of the area.
