PREVIEW

The Olympic flame arrived in France as the three-masted ship Belem docked in Marseille on Wednesday (8 May 2024).

French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou became the first to carry the Olympic torch in France at the welcoming ceremony at sunset in the city’s Old Port.

As the ship arrived into Marseille it was greeted by the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, and a French Air force flyover with planes drawing the five Olympic rings and France’s Tricolour flag in the sky.

After the ship docked Manaudou carried the torch into mainland France for the first time as tens of thousands cheered and France’s President Emmanuel Macron looked on.

As is tradition, the torch was lit in Greece, the original home of the Ancient Olympics, before being handed to France and leaving Athens’ port of Piraeus on a 12-day journey at sea aboard the Belem.

The ship holds special significance as it dates back to 1896, the year of the first modern Olympics.

Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet was also there to welcome the arrival of the Olympic flame, which was then transferred to a special cauldron where it will remain lit overnight.

The torch will now travel across France until it reaches Paris on 26 July and the flame is lit in a cauldron at the Olympic Opening Ceremony - where it will remain for the duration of the games.