The Olympic flame – “an ancient tradition”, as Delphine Moulin, director of the celebrations at Paris 2024 reminds us – will be lit in Greece, the cradle of Olympism, where it will make stops before arriving in Marseille on May 8, 2024 aboard the Belem, one of the oldest three-masters still seaworthy.
For 65 days, the flame will then criss-cross France and overseas territories, following a route that will be unveiled on June 23. “The journey of the flame is a key moment which launches the festivities, a moment which marks memories and which allows the host country to shine”, believes Delphine Moulin. Paris 2024, which has placed the practice of sport at the heart of its project, thus intends to create a “festive and popular” relay, a relay that is “a long sporting journey”. Four French athletes — Laure and Florent Manaudou, Dimitri Pavadé and Mona Francis — will be the captains of the torch relay.
10,000 “scouts”, from the world of sport, associations or culture
In 2024, 10,000 people – “scouts” – will carry the Olympic flame (plus 1,000 for the Paralympic Games, whose route, in August, will be reduced in time). “The challenge is to promote those who do sport, those who experience sport, those who are committed and those who embody French excellence”, sums up Michael Aloisio, spokesperson for Paris 2024. carry the flame alone, or with others, notably via the Olympic and Paralympic federations.
Leaders, educators, volunteers, anonymous or great personalities, local figures, craftsmen, but also people involved in social assistance associations or linked to the environment will thus be invited to carry the flame. As with the volunteer program, Paris 2024 wants there to be gender parity.
All generations will also be represented, while people with disabilities will also be selected. The two sponsors of the torch relay (Coca-Cola and BPCE) will participate in the selection of some of the bearers, the partners of the Games, the territories crossed by the relay and the sports movement (French Olympic Committee and sports federations), in particular 69 collective relays (out of 125).
Nominated, selected or drawn, everyone has their chance
“Ordinary people who have done extraordinary things”, insists Paris 2024. From this Thursday, June 1, there will be several opportunities to become a bearer of the flame. The condition: to be over 15 years old. The members of the Paris 2024 club will thus be invited to propose the name of a personality or a loved one who, in their opinion, stands out, in particular through sport. BPCE, through its Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne entities, offer its customers, members, employees, athletes and the general public a chance to try their luck. Candidates must, from June 1, share, on a dedicated platform (or https://www.caisse-epargne.fr/communication/devenirporteurdelaflamme/), “their inspiring life journey, their commitment to a more united and inclusive society, their initiatives for the protection of the environment, their innovative or sports-related actions”.
A drawing of lots will then make it possible to preselect the candidates, in each of the territories of the Banques Populaires and Caisses d’Epargne. In addition to the individual bearers of the flame, each Banque Populaire and each Caisse d’Epargne will organize a collective relay on its territory, each comprising 24 participants.
For Coca-Cola, everyone can also try their luck, from July 17. Until August 29, the company, which will provide all drinks during the Games, will set up the “Coca-Cola Village” and a tour of 11 cities in France, in order to explain the terms and encourage the French to apply. All you have to do is download the “Coke App” application to post your application.
“We have been a partner of the torch relays on the majority of the editions since Barcelona 1992 and know how moving and unique the passage in the cities and with the public is, underlines Claire Revenu, general manager Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024 at Coca Cola. As sponsors of this new edition, we are very enthusiastic about the idea of allowing several hundred people to become bearers of the flame. In the spring of 2024, Coca-Cola will also organize several concerts during the torch relay and will set up various activities in several cities in France.
