With only days to go before the Opening Ceremony, these are some of the key moments from the Olympic flame’s journey.
The Olympic flame arrived in Paris 12 days ahead of the Opening Ceremony after traveling for miles across France.
According to the event’s official website, a total of 10,000 people have carried the flame throughout the country, from its arrival on the Belem in Marseille to its final destination at the French capital.
READ ALSO: Sporting Style: When Designer Fashion Meets The Paris Olympics
Land, Sea, and Sky
As the Olympic flame passed from person to person, it also traveled in unique ways. On stage 34, freediver Alice Modolo fetched the torch from twenty meters underwater in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
On the surface, surfers carried the torch at Pointe de la Torche in Finistère (stage 34) and Biarritz (stage 12). In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, it crossed bodies of water by canoe, kayak, and boat.
A collective climbing relay in Alpes de Haute Provence (stage 3) brought the torch to the skies while judoka Loïc Pietri took it for a zip-line ride at La Colmiane (stage 34). On land, athletes carried the Olympic torch on rollerblades, skis, and horseback.
Breathtaking Scenery and Historical Landmarks
The Olympic torch relay passed through some of France’s most magnificent and historical sites.
It was carried to the summits of several mountains including the Aiguille du Midi (stage 39), Pic du Canigou (stage 7), and Pic du Midi de Bigorre (stage 12).
The route also passed the tidal island Mont-Saint-Michel, the cliffs of Etretat, the Château de Chambord, the Colorado Provençal at Rustrel, and the caves at Lascaux.
When it reached Paris, the Olympic torch went through some of the city’s most popular landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Elysees, and the Arc de Triomphe.
It was also Bastille Day when the Olympic flame arrived in the capital. The torch relay joined up with thousands of soldiers, sailors, rescuers, and medics for the military parade.
Notable Torchbearers
Among the thousands of torchbearers, several famous personalities and Olympic gold medalists had the honor to join the relay.
Actress Halle Berry, F1 driver Charles Leclerc, snowboarder Shaun White, football player Megan Rapinoe, and basketball player Sue Bird all carried the Olympic flame on stage 34 in Alpes-Maritimes.
Anne-Sophie Pic, the most decorated Michelin-starred female chef, carried the torch through her hometown of Valence. “The three-Michelin-starred chef underscored the excellence in elevating gastronomy of the Drôme department,” the Olympic website stated.
In Paris, BMX world champion Matthias Dandois got to hold the torch in front of the Eiffel Tower. “I got super emotional. I’m from Paris, and I grew up playing so much sport and watching the Olympics, and it was a dream to be a part of it,” he told France 24.
One of the most anticipated torchbearers was Jin of the K-pop group BTS. Representing South Korea, the singer carried the Olympic flame on Sunday evening in front of the Louvre. “It was an honor to be part of such a meaningful moment,” he shared.
Also on Sunday, local garbage collector Ludovic Franceschet, who has over 300,000 followers on social media, brought the flame inside Paris City Hall. An advocate for environmental awareness, he used the monumental occasion to remind residents and visitors to put their trash in bins, as they flock to the city for the Summer Games.
The Olympic flame will continue its journey through nine more stages before returning to Paris. The Opening Ceremony will take place on July 26.
Banner image via Instagram @olympics.
