On Wednesday, the Olympic flame arrived on French soil. A majestic three-masted sailing ship was responsible for the transport under a fierce security arrangement.
1 out of 3Photo: Laurent Cipriani / AP / NTB
Published: 08/05/2024 15:16
The organizers of the Paris Olympics have promised “fantastic” celebrations in Marseille after the arrival of the Olympic flame. The old port has been placed under high security alert.
The fire was lit in Greece last month, before it was officially handed over to the French organizers. It left Athens aboard the sailing vessel Belém, first used in 1896. Since then it has spent twelve days at sea.
More than a thousand boats were expected to follow Belem’s parade around the Bay of Marseille on Wednesday. The ship will dock at a pontoon that looks like an athletics track.
The welcome ceremony, scheduled for dusk, will include a jet show by the Patrouille de France, the French Air Force’s aerobatic troop.
– The return of the Olympic Games to our country will be a fantastic celebration, says President Tony Estanguet of the Olympic Organizing Committee.
The safety of the visitors and residents of Marseille has been prioritized by the authorities. The city is France’s second largest with almost a million people.
Around 8,000 police officers have been deployed around the harbour, where tens of thousands of spectators are expected to attend Wednesday’s ceremony.
Thousands of firefighters and guards have also been deployed in the city together with, among other things, several anti-drone teams. The latter patrols the city’s waters and airspace.
– This is a monumental day, and we have worked hard so that visitors and residents of Marseille can enjoy this historic moment, says Deputy Mayor Yannick Ohanessian.
The torch relay that will end in Paris starts on Thursday. It will visit iconic locations across the country, from world-famous Mont-Saint-Michel to the historic beaches of Normandy and the Palace of Versailles.
