SAINT-DIZIER. From Vert-Bois to Parc du Jard, the Olympic Flame was warmly greeted by the Bragards. The highlight was the lighting of the cauldron by judoka Axel Clerget, an Olympic medalist three years earlier.
At 88 years old, Rosiane is ready on her tricycle, accompanied by a homemade flame in her hand. “I’m very happy to see this,” she confides, in front of the Sociocultural Center, the starting point of the Flame’s journey, while sports activities have been taking place there for a few hours. It is 6 p.m., Aurélie Landry, the first of the 23 torchbearers, arrives. The crossfit specialist at the Rayon sportif bragard, plays the photo game, smile on her lips, torch in hand: “Quick kids, the Flame is here, we’re going to make a souvenir!”, orders a mother. Along the barriers adjoining the CSC, the young people from the neighboring Lucie-Aubrac school have formed a fan zone, shouting “the flame, the flame”. At 6:10 p.m., the Flame is presented, the torch lit, and we set off on a 5 km journey that will take the sacred fire from Vert-Bois to Jard.
From Clothilde Del Ben to Axel Clerget
A few moments later, questioned by our colleagues from France Televisionswho broadcast the flame crossing live, Aurélie Landry says she is “very proud to represent Saint-Dizier, very happy to have carried the flame first. It’s something that only happens once in a lifetime!”
From hand to hand, the flame reaches the city center, via the banks of the canal and the Miko tower, where Mohamed Aloui sees the beginning of a crowd, rue Lalande, before passing the torch to Nathalie Nicolle. The Bettancourt teacher is generously applauded by the students of Jean-Macé – Arago who were eagerly awaiting the passage of the flame.
Just after, in the city center, Place Aristide-Briand is copiously stocked. Flame in hand, bragging boxer Clothilde Del Ben arrives to music. A quick breath to take advantage of the flashmob (read elsewhere) and we’re off again for a stroll, rue Gambetta.
While the torchbearers tread the commercial artery, at Jard, the atmosphere continues to rise. The more time passes, the more visitors gather around the red carpet and the space dedicated to the cauldron. Around 7:20 p.m., Axel Clerget, having collected the torch on Avenue de Belle-Forêt-sur-Marne, entered the park. To the cheers of the public and officials, he ignited the metal circle. The cauldron is lit. The day reaches its peak. “It’s a childhood dream that you have just made me live,” rejoices the Olympic champion. Returned to its lantern and after spending a historic day in Haute-Marne, the Flame then took to the road again, heading towards the Meuse. Not without leaving memorable memories in Bragarde land.
The only regret in the end was that the security of the Games did not allow some spectators to enter the Jard after a certain hour. If the activities ended, nothing stopped them from enjoying the Olympic village.
DL, LV and NF
