Arriving in Marseille this Wednesday, May 8 aboard the Belem, the Olympic flame galvanized the entire Marseille city. A three-month stint awaits her, until her final destination, Paris, where she is expected on July 26 to formalize the start of the Olympic Games.
From Olympia, where it left on April 16, to Paris, where its arrival is scheduled for July 26 during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame will burn proudly throughout its journey three months across France.
But between the Marseille mistral and the Breton rain that it will soon cross, it is not impossible that the weather conditions will cause the flame to flicker, or even extinguish it. If this were to happen, there’s no need to panic.
First, there is not just one flame, but several flames contained in lanterns, similar to miners’ lamps. These are airtight, secure and permanently guarded. “If the flame of one torch goes out, we can light another torch with the lantern, which allows us to have a permanently lit flame”specifies Delphine Moulin, director of the Paris 2024 celebrations, to our colleagues at Provence.
Eleven guardians who watch over her night and day
But be careful, as tradition dictates, there can only be one torch lit at a time. Eleven people take care of its movement and security night and day, ensuring that it does not go out, reports West France. These “flame nannies”, are responsible for entrusting it each morning to the torchbearer of the day and then collecting it in the evening. At night, the flame is kept in a special basin.
In total, nearly 2,000 torches were made (1,500 Olympic and 500 Paralympic) and each will be used approximately ten times during the flame’s journey. Built in steel, they measure 70 cm and weigh 1.5 kg.
