It was therefore the local child who lit the Olympic cauldron. This Wednesday, May 8, the city of Marseille is at the center of attention around the world. After twelve days of crossing the Mediterranean Sea, at the end of a day of festivities broadcast on several television channels, including TF1 and France 2, the Olympic flame finally arrived in Marseille, aboard the legendary Belem, accompanied by more than a thousand boats. Before the boat docked, the Patrouille de France offered an aerial parade above the Old Port: people were able to see the five Olympic rings in the sky before discovering the French flag. Then, under fireworks, the three-masted ship, which announces the start of the Summer Games in France, paraded and then moored at 7:33 p.m. on an impressive pontoon built for the occasion in the Old Town. -Port. It was therefore the French swimmer and 2012 Olympic swimming champion Florent Manaudou who was the very first bearer of the Olympic torch on French soil. Once on land, the famous swimmer handed over to Nantenin Keita, Paralympic athletics champion. Much speculation surrounded the identity of the third torchbearer. Everyone was expecting a renowned athlete and in particular a footballer well known in Marseille and around the world: Zinédine Zidane. However, to everyone’s surprise, it was another Marseille legend who took over the Olympic torch…
“What sport does Jul do?”
It was therefore the Marseille rapper Jul who lit the Olympic cauldron, sparking a real scene of jubilation in the Marseille city. Born in Marseille, the artist was proud to light the basin and then thanked “the area” several times. He also wished “gold, silver and platinum medals” to French athletes, winking at a reference to his “Gold and Platinum” label. “Thank you zone, great strength to everyone and strength to the Olympic Games, thank you zone!” added the rapper before performing “La Faille” in front of the audience on site. “What an atmosphere, what a surprise and what a ceremony!” began Gilles Bouleau on the TF1 set. Jul’s choice sparked strong reactions on X. Many Internet users expected to see an athlete and not a rapper light the Olympic cauldron…
