DIRECT. Paris 2024: Belem moves closer to the Old Port in Marseille, follow the arrival of the Olympic flame

They denounce the Olympics with harmful social and environmental consequences and demand the exclusion of Israel, as was the apartheid regime of South Africa.

The swimmer, Olympic champion in the 50m freestyle, arrived aboard the Belem. He received from Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, the official outfit of the torchbearers.

Florent Manaudou will be the first torchbearer to carry the flame on French soil, shortly after 7 p.m.

The Old Port has gradually filled up, tens of thousands of people are already present, a little over an hour from Belem’s entrance into the city.

In total, 150,000 people are expected for this day of festivities. More than 5,500 members of the police are mobilized to ensure security.

“The sky is blue, there is practically no wind, the conditions are optimal,” rejoiced Stephen Price, deputy director of the Patrouille de France, speaking to France 2.

From 7 p.m., the pilots will offer a 10-minute show to the public present in the Old Port, when the Belem arrives. There will be three paintings, including a new one, “in the colors of the Olympic rings”, reveals the professional.

After sailing along the coast of Marseille throughout the day, the Belem will dock at 7 p.m. in the Old Port, in two hours from now on. The three-masted ship is currently continuing its parade.

The head of state arrived in Marseille. He first joined Rodolphe Saadé, president of CMA CGM, to inaugurate “Tangram”, an innovation and training center.

“This special day will still fuel a lot of jealousy in other cities towards Marseille,” the President said during his speech, according to La Provence. He will be present in the Old Port at 7 p.m. to welcome the Belem and the Olympic flame, lit on April 16 in Olympia.

To celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille, the South Winners, a key group of supporters of the Orange Vélodrome, prepared a huge tifo on the monuments at the entrance to the Old Port.

In particular, they want to “pay homage to the history and Greek origin of Marseille”, Rachid Zeroual, head of the South Winners, explained to France 3 Provence.

While the Belem continues its parade along the coast of Marseille, the inhabitants of the Phocaean city have joined the Old Port. Several activities are offered to them, including an introduction to wheelchair basketball or breaking demonstrations.

The former Olympique de Marseille player will carry the flame tomorrow in the Marseille city. He spoke on France 2, accompanied by Tony Estanguet: “The flame is once every 100 years. It’s a Source of pride, I’m going to get chills. »

Along the coast of Marseille, the three-masted ship continues its maritime parade, accompanied by more than 1000 boats. At sea or far away, from land, the public can enjoy the show.

There are more and more spectators around the Old Port of Marseille, but they will have to wait until the end of the day to witness the start of the torch relay on French soil. In the meantime, the “sacred fire” is preserved on Belem.

Tony Estanguet, the president of the Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, approached the Belem from another boat. “It’s so nice to see them again,” slips the triple Olympic champion into the microphone of France 2.

“That’s it, the party is here! enjoys Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the Minister of Sports and the Olympic Games, on the France 2 set.

“It’s a bit like the real kick-off to our Olympic Games, it should create a moment of unity. (…) We must open the Games in a big way and live them to the fullest from now on,” she continued, while Belem continued its parade in the harbor of Marseille.

The first bearer of the flame on French soil, Florent Manaudou will begin his relay shortly after 7 p.m. this Wednesday evening. “I realized that there were a lot of people,” explained the swimmer on TF1. I know there will also be a lot of viewers. I want to take as much energy as possible from all the French and foreigners who are in Marseille for the arrival of the flame. »

The Belem, surrounded by a thousand boats, is currently parading in the northern harbor of Marseille. Discover the first images.

The boats sound sirens and horns to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flame.

” This is the big day ! », wrote Benoit Payan on his X account this Wednesday, May 8, as the Olympic flame approaches the Old Port. The mayor of France’s second city posted a photo with Florent Manaudou. The Olympic 50m freestyle champion will be the first bearer of the flame on French soil.

The festivities surrounding the arrival of the flame began this Tuesday in Marseille, including a show of some 800 drones organized and visible from the Old Port. Among the figures represented: the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica, the Paris 2024 logo accompanied by the Olympic rings and the Belem.

20,000 spectators attended this first Olympic evening, ending with fireworks.

More than 1000 boats are preparing to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flame in France during this nautical parade. They found themselves this morning in the “north harbor” of Marseille, opposite the working-class neighborhoods of the city, then from 11 a.m. they will follow the Belem which will travel to the south harbor as far as Goudes. Belem which will then stop between the Frioul islands and the Old Port around 3:30 p.m.

Boat, horse or space shuttle, the Olympic flame has experienced almost every travel condition imaginable over time. Sometimes a propaganda tool, the Olympic relay is most often a symbol of sharing.

The Olympic cauldron will be lit this evening, after the arrival of the flame in the Old Port. Impatience is growing in Marseille, before this day full of activities.

Florent Manaudou will be the first torchbearer of the Olympic flame on French soil. He will pick it up at 7:45 p.m. in the Old Port. This Thursday, May 9, other celebrities will take over, such as Didier Drogba, Louisa Necib, Tony Parker, Soprano and Jean-Pierre Papin.

Departing from the port of Piraeus, Greece, on April 27, the Olympic flame crossed the Mediterranean aboard the Belem. During her twelve days of travel, she was accompanied by the crew of the three-masted ship and sixteen young scouts chosen from all over France.

The city is preparing to welcome the Olympic flame in a festive and friendly atmosphere, even if security measures have been reinforced.

The Belem and the Olympic flame will reach the harbor of Marseille around 11 a.m. They will stay there until 5 p.m. for a big maritime parade. The public will then gather in the Old Port to attend several artistic performances. Florent Manaudou will collect the flame at 7:45 p.m., then light the first Olympic cauldron, on the Quai de la Fraternité.

Please follow the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille on Le Parisien, this Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

A historic arrival