The Olympic flame began its ocean relay on Sunday (June 9).
His first stop overseas was in Guyana. She began her journey with Camopi, then Saint-Laurent, Saint-Georges, Kourou, Macouria, Matoury before concluding it in Cayenne, on the Place des Palmistes, where the cauldron was lit by the Guyanese swimmer, Olympic vice-champion over 50 m, Malia Metella.
On Wednesday, the flame will be in Reunion. But a question arises: how is it possible that she finds herself in these territories when she is currently crossing the Atlantic with Marie-Josée Pérec on a sailboat bound for Guadeloupe?
Several Olympic torches
In fact, there is not just one Olympic flame, but flames or rather Olympic torches. They are even very numerous, 2,000 in total for these 2024 Games, and therefore make it possible to carry out this torch relay at the national level and in the overseas territories.
The original fire lit in Greece
What matters is the original fire lit in Greece. Each of the torches is lit by lanterns that come from this fire. This is where the symbolism of this Olympic flame lies. This is also why the flame can take part in the overseas tour this year in record time.
On once arrived on site
After Guyana, Reunion, she will be in Guadeloupe on Saturday (June 15). In all these territories, the Olympic torch is only lit once it arrives on site by the famous lanterns which contain the original fire. The only constraint to perpetuate the Olympic symbol is that two torches cannot be lit at the same time in two different territories.
