The president of the Southern region expresses his reservations about the choice of Jul to light the Olympic cauldron in Marseille, preferring a sporting figure.
During a recent interview on -, Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, expressed his disagreement with the choice of Jul, famous French rapper, to light the first cauldron of the 2024 Olympic Games in Marseille .
The ceremony, which took place the previous Wednesday in the Old Port of Marseille, saw Jul light the Olympic cauldron, sparking a wave of reactions. According to Muselier, although Jul is an “exceptional singer”, his participation as a torch bearer was not appropriate as it should be an honor reserved for sporting figures.
Renaud Muselier mentioned on - that this decision had “spoiled the party a bit”, echoing criticism that Jul was not paying enough homage to the Olympics or to France through his action, but rather to his own local community. The absence of Zinedine Zidane, a Marseille sporting icon, from the event was also highlighted as a “miss”.
At the same time, Renaud Muselier also addressed the issues of the next European elections, criticizing the approach of some who want to use the vote to punish President Macron rather than focusing on the real European issues. He stressed the importance of not diverting the debate towards Franco-French issues at the risk of neglecting the major challenges that Europe must face.
Jul’s participation in the Olympic cauldron lighting ceremony continues to be debated, illustrating the tension between popular culture and sporting traditions in the context of Olympic preparations. Meanwhile, broader questions about identity and representation at major international events remain relevant.
