The Flame lit at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille [Photo: Paris 2024 / Cédric Michel / SIPA PRESS]
Flame completes first week of French journey
by Philip Barker
After the dramatic and memorable arrival in Marseille on board the Belem, the Olympic Flame has now completed the first week of its journey across France.
The Relay began at the Basilica of Notre-Dame of la Garde in Marseille.
It was carried by Basile Boli, scorer of the goal which won the UEFA Champions League for Olympique Marseille in 1993.
He passed the Flame to 83-year-old Colette Cataldo, a lifelong supporter of the club on a day when club personalities played a prominent role.
At the Stade Velodrome, Marseille star Jean-Pierre Papin passed the Torch to Louisa Nécib who played for France at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Rapper Soprano appeared on the roof of the stadium with Marseille women’s midfielder Jenny Perret.
The previous evening, Soprano had performed a set when the Flame made landfall after its voyage across the sea from Greece.
As the Relay continued in the Var department it was local star Marielle Goitschel, winner of a second Olympic skiing gold medal at the 1968 Games in Grenoble, who carried the Flame in Saint-Raphaël.
A team of climbers organised by the French Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing made an ascent of the Falaise de la Baume in Sisteron with the Flame.
The “Collective” Relays by teams of runners are planned to be a regular element of the journey of the Torch.
The following day the French volleyball Federation formed a team to promote their sport. Former French national team coach, Laurent Tillie and former international player Karine Salinas were the “captains” for this stage.
Paralympic competitors played prominent roles before Stéphanie Mariage, team table tennis gold medallist in 2000 and 2004 lit a cauldron.
In Montpellier, it fell to double World decathlon gold medallist Kevin Mayer to ignite the celebratory cauldron.
Earlier three-time world vertical skating champion Taïg Khris had skated down the Millau Viaduct carrying the Flame in a dramatic display.
In Corsica, Torch designer Mathieu Lehanneur was re-united with his creation.
There was also a family link with previous Olympics on French soil for artistic swimming coach Lena Bardiot-Patroni. Her grandmother had taken part in the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics and mother lit the cauldron the last time the Flame visited Corsica en route to the 1992 Albertville Winter Games.
24 footballers took part in another Collective Relay. This followed an emotional moment at the Bastia Football stadium where in 1992 a stand collapsed during the French Cup semi-final between Bastia and Marseille. 19 lost their lives.
Josepha Guidicelli, leader of the charity to support victims, carried the Flame into the stadium before a silent moment of remembrance was observed.
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