Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay
by John Cushing, June 2023 updated Jan 2024
Happy Olympic Day! It's always a challenge to make the Olympic Torch Relay different and develop it, but to be fair to Paris 2024 organisers, who've had a tough week following the French prosecutors raid over finances on Tuesday, they've pulled a few tricks out of the bag to achieve their aim of allowing most French people to see the flame.
It would be really easy to point out a sailing ship instead of a BA plane carrying the flame from Greece, instead of Lands End the historic Mediterranean sea port of Marseille, or Mont Saint-Michel for St Michael's Mount. The London 2012 Olympic torch relay was the start of a super summer of sport for many in this country, as thousands lined the route and hundreds carried it. Ultimately, the OTR as it's known by Olympic circles, which dates back to 1952 in Norway, does what it says on the tin. The Olympic flame is carried around the host nation, allowing as many to see if as possible, building momentum and excitement ahead of the world's greatest show the Olympic Games opening ceremony. It looks like Paris 2024 will achieve this in spades!
The OTR route will go to 64 territories, 400 cities and towns with 65 'celebration sites' including a more inclusive presentation party each night, rather than a concert stage. Overall after being handed the flame in Greece on April 26, the 'Belem' sailing ship will arrive in Marseille on May 8. For the next 68 days the OTR will incorporate locations that tell the story of France, highlight it's natural heritage, sporting achievement and so called French savoirfaire - the innovation and creativity of France!
On the route we'll see Joan of Arc's house, the Palace of Versailles, Chablis vineyards, the Mont Blanc valley, Roland Garros, the Yves-Du-Manoir stadium of the Games in 1924, and even cross the Atlantic to Guadeloupe and Martinique in a racing boat.
For the first time in the OTR, there'll be a relay within a relay - with a 'collective' chosen to carry the flame on the route - 24 team members including a captain - with the 35 Olympic and Paralympic sport federations involved.
Organisers have already announced the search for 11,000 Forerunners or “Relais des Eclaireurs”, people who live and breathe sport daily, people who have invested in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and people who are eager to welcome and experience the Games. 20,000 nominations have already been received.
