Summer will have started a little late. This Wednesday, June 26 in Strasbourg, the Olympic flame aroused summer fervor, unlike a rainy Music Festival. On the Big Island late in the afternoon, the crowd begins to gather behind the metal barriers. Couples, families or groups of friends patiently wait for the passage of the Olympic flame. On everyone’s lips, the sensation of experiencing a « moment unique », “the opportunity of a lifetime”. By continuing the discussion, another motivation emerges: the need for a festive and unifying moment, around values of peace and solidarity.
A moment far from the elections
A stone’s throw from the Corbeau Bridge, Isabelle and her granddaughter Charlotte came from Ostwald to see the Alsatian singers: Matt Pokora and Martin Léon. The 47-year-old sales consultant feels reassured by the smooth running of the event:
“It’s scared me since the dissolution: will the legislative elections disrupt the organization of the Olympic Games? I imagine that at the level of the Ministry of Sports or the Interior, we cannot pass such a file like that, in the middle of the event. It’s good to take your mind off things with a moment of sharing where you don’t think about future elections. “
In front of the Cathedral, well sheltered in the shade, a small group of Ukrainians waits patiently. Nathalia, Irene, Mykhailo and the two Annes found refuge in Switzerland after the start of the war in Ukraine. They now live in Basel and came to Strasbourg to see the Olympic flame. In German that is still in its infancy, Anne recalls an event “that we are experiencing perhaps for the first and last time”. Beside him, Nathalia holds out her phone after recording a few Ukrainian words on Google: “When the Olympic Games start, it’s a bit like wars end. We so much wish for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine…”
“A little oxygen feels good”
Marie and Furio also take advantage of a tree on the Place des Tripiers to avoid the heat. The couple came from Saint-Dizier and will enjoy a second passage of the flame at their home in a few days. For Marie, there was no question of missing a single opportunity to experience this moment of the Olympic Games:
“I provide academic support with young people from the Traveler community. The Olympics were the theme of the year. It is a good support for working on the countries of the world and sporting disciplines. The perseverance required to obtain a medal is also a good example. We even wrote to Teddy Rinner. For students who don’t know how to read or write well, this is a great exercise. »
“And then if we can have a little cohesion in this country, it’s not a refusal.”, adds Furio. Marie nods alongside him: “With all these problems we have today, a little oxygen feels good. Just for a moment, a parenthesis in this difficult period. »
“Grandiose” to “calm things down”
Leaning on one of the thousands of railings that crisscross the city, Martin is also looking for the opportunity of a lifetime. The German soldier in the Eurocorps left the city of Erfurt two months ago to do “new experiences and learning alongside military personnel from across Europe”. For him, games symbolize an essential value, that of self-denial. But above all, they constitute a moment sufficiently « grandiose » pour “calm things down a little”. And the soldier quotes “The wars in Israel and Ukraine. They must end…”
On Wednesday, Margot goes “at grandpa and grandma’s”. Michel, 71, wanted to please his 10-year-old granddaughter. A gymnast in the La Strasbourgeoise team, Margot wanted to see the Olympic flame pass for two reasons. She describes the first by taking out of her pocket a sheet titled: “Olympic flame in Strasbourg Wednesday June 26”. The rest of the page must accommodate Matt Pokora’s autograph. But Margot also seeks consolation here: “We weren’t able to get tickets to see the gymnastics events. When we wanted to buy some, all the places were already taken, except the most expensive…”
Unity, mutual aid and hope
Two ice creams in their hands, Hervé and Anouk do not attach the same importance to the Olympic flame. One would gladly have done without waiting for him to pass. The other wants to stay, “for the symbols around games, mutual aid, humility, inclusion”. “At a time when the political situation is tense, sport can allow everyone to come together. The values of sport are universal, they can help us overcome the political situation”hopes Hervé.
6:30 p.m. The long-awaited moment is approaching. Roxane lives close by. She just came down for that Olympic flame she sees “like something that has been perpetuated since Ancient Greece”. Then the engineer comes to more current considerations: “As a person of color, obviously, I am uncomfortable with the far right at the gates of power. They fuel fears when an event like the Olympic Games pushes people to go out and discover the world. For me the flame represents unity and it is a sign of hope. »
“It looks like the Tour de France with all these ads…”
7 p.m. People rush to be in the front row behind the metal barriers. Impatience grows as the vehicles follow one another between the Kléber bookstore and the Galeries Lafayette. Motorcycles, scooters and police vans, then advertising vehicles, from the Caisse d’Épargne, the Banque Populaire and then Coca-Cola, all partners of the Olympic Games. Then the flame passes. Too busy filming with their phones, spectators no longer have hands available to applaud. After a pause, the flame starts again. Marie leaves the place in surprise: “It looks like the Tour de France with all these ads…”
At 7:30 p.m., the event reaches its climax. The native of Strasbourg and former coach of the Arsenal club in England Arsène Wenger lights the cauldron to applause. Behind the cheering crowd, Warda (first name has been changed) stands aside with her stroller. She managed to catch a glimpse of the flame, which reminds her of the death of her father, with whom she watched the Olympic Games on TV as a child. For a moment, Warda “forgot the news, Bardella and his comments on binationality. »
Back to reality
A large crowd follows the idol of many footballers, Arsène Wenger. In the stroller, a small child starts screaming. Return to harsh reality for Warda. She recounts this meeting at the prefecture a few days ago, “for an application for naturalization”. She pauses as she sees the place gradually emptying around her: “I hope that the National Rally will not take power…”
