The Olympic torch has just arrived at the port of Marseille, France, in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, amidst a grand celebration that featured many international stars from various fields. French President Macron and numerous athletes were among the prominent attendees welcoming the Olympic torch.
In a celebratory scene under the bright sun, the Olympic torch arrived today, Wednesday, aboard the three-masted ship Belem, off the coast of Marseille, in southern France, where it docked at the old port of the city with the presence of around 150,000 people, signaling the start of festivities in the country before the torch reaches the French capital, Paris, on the opening day of the Olympic Games scheduled from July 26 to August 8.
The Belem ship, arriving from Greece, entered the shores of Marseille while being accompanied by about 2,000 sailboats in a grand maritime display until it reached the old port of the city. At the old port, grand musical celebrations will commence with the attendance of around 150,000 citizens from the coastal city and other French towns who were eager to witness this significant moment and celebrate the arrival of the Olympic torch, all under tight security measures, with over 6,000 police officers deployed.
French President Emmanuel Macron will address the celebrations scheduled for tonight in honor of the Olympic torch's arrival in France, marking the beginning of its journey towards the French capital, Paris. Upon its arrival in Marseille, the Olympic torch is expected to tour several regions and departments in France, covering 65 stations and more than 400 towns and cities during its journey of 12,000 kilometers, before arriving in Paris to commence the Olympic Games on July 26.
Starting today, the torch embarks on a unique 69-day journey, passing through many heritage sites and breathtaking landscapes in France, serving as an opportunity to promote the country's culturally valuable heritage with global significance. Every French person will have the chance to see the torch as it traverses about 400 cities, beginning with the coastal city of Marseille, highlighting France's beauty, history, natural landscapes, treasures, and cultural heritage.
Throughout this extraordinary journey, the Olympic torch will link different eras of France's history, presenting a unique perspective on the archaeological and heritage sites of the country, including the medieval city of Carcassonne in southern France, and the mountainous Pyrenees region, where the exceptional landscapes are located on both sides of the border between France and Spain.
From the south of the country to the north, the torch will reach Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most visited historical landmarks in France, which has a legendary church built on a rock about 1,300 years ago, and then on to the historic Palace of Versailles, which along with its gardens is a distinguished location dating back to the French monarchy from Louis XIV to Louis XVI.
The torch will conclude its journey in the French capital on July 26, and for the first time in the history of the modern Olympic Games, the opening ceremony will take place in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site along the banks of the Seine River, where the development, history, and famous tourist sites of Paris can be admired.
