Direct. Olympic Torch Relay: look back at a lively day in Castelnaudary

The Olympic flame is Castelnaudary this Thursday, May 16, 2024. It has been exactly a month since the first torch of the Torch Relay was lit. And eight days that the latter crisscrossed France, thus plunging the country into the epic of the Olympic Games – which will be held this year in Paris, from July 26 to August 11.

The teams of Voice of Midi Lauragais are mobilizing for the occasion to bring you the event live. Our “live” can be followed below (read from bottom to top).

The expected flame at Revel

Friday May 17 at 7:26 a.m.: Hello everyone ! Our live is back in service. After a lively day in Castelnaudary this Thursday, May 16, Voice of Midi Lauragais is in Revel to follow the Olympic torch relay. Departure is scheduled for 9 a.m.

The party continues at Place de Verdun

5 p.m.: This is the end of this live, thank you for following us. We’ll see you tomorrow morning to follow stage 9 of the Torch Relay. The latter will make its foray into the Haute-Garonne department with a passage, from 9 a.m., in the town of Revel.

4:51 p.m.: On the Place de Verdun, the party continues. On the program: dance demonstrations with local associations, majorettes and baton twirling. From 7 p.m., it’s time for music with the group G63.

4:43 p.m.: Elected officials and flame bearers pose for a souvenir photo. The Olympic flame has left the town of Castelnaudary to join Gruissan, the next stage of the relay, then Carcassonne where the cauldron will be lit this evening.

The flame reached the Place de la République

4:30 p.m.: “It’s a great pride and an honor that our children and I can see this,” says Victorien, Laure Vallat-Lafargue’s husband. Our values ​​are sport, and it only happens once in a lifetime. »

Zoé, Tom and Léo, their children, are very moved to see their mother carry the torch: “I would like to carry the flame one day too,” hopes Tom.

4:15 p.m.: The Torch Relay is coming to an end, the last torchbearer has just climbed onto the stage at Place de la République.

4:12 p.m.: The flame is about to reach the finish, Place de la République, with its last torchbearer, Élodie Clergue.

Animations to keep spectators waiting on the course

4:10 p.m.: Many spectators came to the course and Place de la République, at the end of the route, to witness the final moments of the Torch Relay in Castelnaudary and enjoy the activities planned by the municipality and local associations.

4:06 p.m.: It feels like the Tour de France in the streets of Castelnaudary. Partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Coca-Cola deployed a “caravan”, bringing the Torch Relay route to life.

4 p.m.: On the Cours de la République, where the Relay must pass, the spectators dance to the rhythm of the batucada, while waiting for the flame.

3:42 p.m.: It is now up to Maïlys Saint Germain to pass the torch relay to Laure Vallat-Lafargue, swimmer and triathlete.

3:40 p.m.: After covering 200 m, “Coco” passes the baton to Gabin Soulet.

3:34 p.m.: “ Coco”, the first flame bearer in Castelnaudary, is strongly encouraged, on her journey, by her supporters.

The Torch Relay started from Quai du Canelot

3:31 p.m.: Top start for the Torch Relay in Castelnaudary!

3:27 p.m.: The Olympic flame is now lit!

3:23 p.m.: The lantern has just arrived at the Quai du Canelot, in Castelnaudary. It’s only a matter of minutes before the first torchbearer sets off.

3:15 p.m.: The music school orchestra and its approximately 40 musicians are installed on the Quai du Port, on the banks of the Canal du Midi. They are preparing for the passage of the flame which should quickly stop at this location before resuming its route, towards Place de la République.

“We can only be proud. Coralie kicks off, it’s magnificent,” confides her dad, Francis.

3:06 p.m.: Coralie Fournil will be the first bearer of the Olympic flame in Castelnaudary. Originally from Mas-Saintes-Puelles, she is once again the French adapted sport table tennis champion since yesterday, Wednesday May 15.

The whole city prepares to welcome the Torch Relay

3 p.m.: The mayor of Castelnaudary, Patrick Maugard, receives for the occasion representatives of Marradi (Italy), a town twinned with the Chaurian city. And pose alongside them, just before the flame leaves, for a souvenir photo.

2:57 p.m.: The municipality has provided spaces reserved for students from Chaurian establishments along the route. 3,000 are expected.

2:44 p.m.: In the Chaurian city as in each town crossed, the Torch Relay will take a specific route. After starting from Quai du Canelot, the flame will reach Avenue François-Mitterrand, Rue Riquet, Quai du Port and Avenue Georges-Pompidou. It will loop around the west side of the city, passing in particular near the sports infrastructures, before reaching Place de la République. He is scheduled to arrive there at 4:15 p.m.

2:27 p.m.: In Castelnaudary, the start of the Torch Relay will be at 3:25 p.m. from the Quai du Canelot. The first spectators are already positioned along the route – particularly near the Canal du Midi –, one hour before the start.

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