Paris Olympic mascot.© AFP
The torch relay for the Paris Olympics will begin in April 2024 in the southern port of Marseille, organizers announced on Friday. The torch will arrive on a three-masted ship from Greece to Marseille, the spiritual home of the Olympics. This will set the tone for the Games whose opening ceremony will be held on the Seine in Paris. “In the spring of 2024, Marseille will have the honor and privilege of being the first city to welcome the Olympic flame on French soil,” Paris 2024 organizers said in a statement.
“The Belem, a majestic three-masted ship, will carry the flame across the Mediterranean from Athens to Marseille, two cities closely linked by a shared history.”
The ancient Greek colony of Massalia was established on the French Mediterranean coast in 600 BC. This settlement would become the modern-day Marseille.
Chief organizer Tony Estanguet said that Marseille was “a natural and obvious choice” to host the torch’s arrival.
Marseille will host the sailing events for the Games.
The Paris Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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