While the 77th Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and will come to an end on Saturday, a distinguished guest will appear this Tuesday. The Olympic flame, which has no official stage on May 21, after having traveled the Pyrénées-Atlantiques the day before and before discovering Périgord on Wednesday, will walk the red carpet accompanied by renowned athletes.
The day after D-100 of the Paralympic Games, several Paralympians will have the opportunity to participate in this celebration, like Nélia Barbosa, Alexis Hanquinquant and Marie Patouillet. Five-time Paralympic medalist Arnaud Assoumani, who will compete in his sixth Games this summer in Paris, will climb the steps with the flame. A huge honor for the high jumper.
“I don’t realize it yet,” he told us this Saturday. It’s really unbelievable. I knew that I was going to climb the steps surrounded by exceptional Paralympic champions like Nélia, Alexis or Marie, and I was told that I might be going to carry the flame. But I thought I was going to be one of the torchbearers like there are flamebearers all over France at the moment, not that they were going to choose me to be on the red carpet. It’s an honor, clearly, because we all watched the red carpet in Cannes. Whether you are a movie buff or not, it is part of French heritage. »
A documentary on “France of the Games” broadcast
99 days before the Paralympic Games, Arnaud Assoumani hopes to deliver a positive message and highlight the athletes who will shine at the end of August. “I also fight for the rights of people who have a disability, who may experience discrimination, for equality, for inclusion, for justice,” he emphasizes. And to tell myself that I will be able to be the spokesperson for these values, that is what is very very important, beyond personal pride, that of those close to me. »
This day will also be an opportunity to broadcast a documentary by Mickaël Gamrasni called “Olympics! La France des Jeux”, which highlights athletes from several generations and their Olympic exploits. Charles Coste, Romain Cannone, Kiki Caron, Béatrice Hess and Nikola Karabatic appear in this documentary. The names of the directors of a series being filmed behind the scenes of the organization will also be revealed.
