Following in the footsteps of Florent Manaudou, the first bearer of the flame upon his arrival in Marseille, on May 8, many sportsmen and personalities will follow one another in the streets of the Marseille city to carry the torch.
D-2 before the arrival of the Olympic flame on French soil. Almost two weeks after leaving Greece and boarding the Belem, the symbol of the Olympic Games is expected this Wednesday, May 8 in Marseille, the starting point of her long journey across France which will take her to Paris, where she will light the Olympic cauldron on July 26 during the opening ceremony of the Games.
For two weeks, while the name of Zinédine Zidane kept coming back insistently to be the first bearer of the flame on French soil, it is certain that Florent Manaudou will be this first torchbearer. The 50m Olympic champion in London, Olympic vice-champion in Rio and Tokyo, is a member of the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille and once again has a chance of a medal at the Paris Games.
Tony Parker, Jean-Pierre Papin and Soprano among the torchbearers
Many other big names in sport and other personalities will follow in his footsteps. Among the athletes, Tony Parker, Nando de Colo, Frédérick Bousquet, Fabien Gilot and Sébastien Foucras will be there. And Olympique de Marseille will also be in the spotlight since Eric Di Meco, Valentin Rongier, Jean-Pierre Papin, Basile Boli, Didier Drogba and Colette Cataldo, OM supporter for 60 years, will be among the torchbearers. Among the personalities, the rappers Soprano and Alonzo are announced, as well as the comedian Redouane Bougheraba and the presenter Camille Combal.
The torchbearers in Marseille
Soccer: Eric Di Meco, Valentin Rongier, Jean-Pierre Papin, Louisa Necib, Basile Boli, Didier Drogba, Colette Cataldo (OM supporter for 60 years).
Other sports: Tony Parker, Nando de Colo, Frédérick Bousquet, Fabien Gilot, Sébastien Foucras (skiing), Pascale Trinquet Havin (fencing), Anouk Garnier, Denis Gargaud Chanut (canoeing), Vincent Matheron (skateboarding).
Artists: Soprano, Alonzo, Redouane Bougheraba, Nicole Ferroni, Adda Abdelli, Camille Combal and Alexandre Mazzia.
Questioned in the columns ofWest France, the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, also announced that a European relay bringing together 28 athletes will be held on Thursday. He will be led by the Ukrainian Maria Vysotchanska (rhythmic gymnastics) and Jean Galfione, Olympic champion in 1996 in Atlanta, will be the French representative.
“We will have a relay of European athletes with twenty-eight athletes and para-athletes from all EU countries, confided the minister. There will notably be four participants in the Paris Games, three former flag bearers, former Olympic champions. Among the personalities: the Belgian sprinter Kim Gevaert or our former pole vaulter Jean Galfione, of whom we are very proud that he represents France! The captain of this relay will be Maria Vysotchanska, captain of the Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics team. It is a strong symbol. As this relay is a strong symbol to defend the values of Europe and highlight the European sporting model, which better than any other creates solidarity between high-level sport and amateur sport. »
