Perec to Join Paris 2024 Oceans Relay
by Philip Barker
Triple Olympic gold medallist Marie Jose Perec is to join the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay as part of the “Ocean’s Relay” which takes the Flame to the Caribbean and other French overseas territories.
The Torch is to be carried aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI an Ultim class trimaran which is scheduled to leave Brest in North West France on June 7th for a journey skippered by round the world sailor Armel Le Cléac’h.
“The Oceans Relay will be an exceptional chapter in the Paris 2024 Torch Relay. It is both an unprecedented sporting adventure and also a beautiful opportunity to highlight the diversity of the landscapes of the six overseas territories visited,” said Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet.
Perec, who won 400m gold in 1992 and the 200m/400m double in 1996, is one of four personalities selected by Torch Relay sponsors Banque Populaire.
Paris 2024 have said that the selection “brings together inspiring personalities from the worlds of sport, culture, art and gastronomy, chosen to bring emotions to the public and highlight French excellence.”
Perec is to be joined by doctor Marine Lorphelin, actor Alexis Michalik, who portrayed French sailor Olivier de Kersauson in Flo, which had its cinematic release late last year.
Two-star Michelin chef Hugo Roellinger is also to be on board.
“We are delighted to involve the whole of France, through the world of sport, gastronomy, culture and health, as well as entrepreneurship, crafts and education, in this historic event,” said Banque Populaire Development officer Pierre-Laurent Berne.
The itinerary is set to include French Guiana, New Caledonia, Reunion Island, French Polynesia Guadeloupe and Martinique.
It is not the first time that the Olympic Flame has travelled across the Atlantic by sea.
In 1968 the Spanish corvette Princesa made the crossing and reached San Salvador in the Bahamas after some 15 days at sea.
The Flame had earlier been taken across the Mediterranean by sea following a similar route to that which will be taken by the Paris 2024 Flame next month.
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