Olympic torch relay aims to eclipse political tensions in France
The upcoming passage through Paris on Sunday and Monday aims to reignite Olympic enthusiasm in the French capital. The political upheavals following the legislative elections have slightly overshadowed the positive atmosphere that the Olympic flame relay and other related events were generating.
The Olympic torch relay is a modern invention inspired by practices from ancient Greece, marking the start of the Olympic Games and aiming to convey a “message of peace and friendship along its route,” as stated on the Games’ official website.
Since its arrival in Marseille on 8 May, the Olympic flame has been a great success in the host country, attracting nearly 5 million spectators along its path. “For many French people who are worried, the Games represent a kind of break before serious issues return to the forefront,” commented Paul Dietschy, a sports historian at the University of Franche-Comte, hoping this Olympic ‘break’ will help calm tensions in French society.
The relay route was also designed for the flame, lit in the Greek city of Olympia, to be present at the Games’ venue on July 14, coinciding with France’s national holiday. This weekend will serve as a prelude to the main event starting on July 26. The two-day passage on July 14 and 15 will bring joy to Parisians before the flame completes its journey ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony, with the cauldron being lit in the Tuileries Gardens, near the Louvre Museum.
The next days’ historical relay activities will be accompanied not only by festive events such as concerts, choirs, and various performances but also by visits to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Pantheon, Notre-Dame, Bastille Square, the Pompidou Museum, and the Arc de Triomphe.
An estimated total of 540 relay runners will be responsible for completing 200-metre segments, aiming to openly showcase the flame, a symbol of the Olympics, to the inhabitants of Paris and visitors alike. The flame will start its journey precisely on Sunday during the July 14 military parade, escorted by Thibaut Vallette, Olympic champion in equestrian events at Rio 2016.
Following this, the legendary footballer Thierry Henry, coach of the French men’s Olympic football team, will carry the flame along the Champs-Elysees. From that point, the route will include a comprehensive tour from the National Assembly to Notre Dame Cathedral, passing by the Senate and the Sorbonne University, heading north and finally returning to the center for the classic fireworks at the Eiffel Tower.
The next day, after spending the night from Sunday to Monday in the golden halls of the Hotel de Ville, the flame will hit the streets again on the 15th to traverse Paris once more, visiting Montmartre, the Sacre-Coeur, and the Moulin Rouge, among other landmarks.