MARSEILLE, France – Torch bearers carried the Olympic torch through the streets of the southern French port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-masted ship for a welcoming ceremony.
The torch begins its 11-week journey across the country with around 10,000 bearers passing through more than 450 cities until the opening ceremony of the Games in Paris on July 26.
Former footballer Basile Boli, who played for the Marseille team in the 1990s, kicked off Thursday’s relay at the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica, overlooking Marseille and the Mediterranean.
“I’m very proud,” said Boli. “You feel on top of the world, because with an Olympic flame there is a special fervor. …It’s the symbol of the sport!”
Basketball player Tony Parker then took his turn in the relay. At a crowded nearby beach, swimmers and sunbathers cheered the torchbearers as the flame passed by.
A fencing champion, a skateboarder, a Michelin-starred chef and a comedian were also chosen to carry the flame.
“We are going for a fantastic celebration,” said Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris Olympics organizing committee. “The Games are back in our country… Let’s share this fantastic moment of celebration with millions of people in the country.”
Participants were expected to spend the entire day passing through the city’s landmarks to carry the torch to the roof of the famous Stade Velodrome, home to Marseille’s passionate football fans.
Many residents and visitors strolled through Porto Velho, enjoying the sun while waiting for the torch to arrive.
The Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, said “it is fantastic to give this feeling of pride to the French people and show the whole world what we are capable of achieving”.
“’Let’s give happiness to the whole world,’ she added.
One of the torchbearers is Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska, who won two gold medals at the 2020 European Championships and competed at the Tokyo Olympics.
It is an expression of solidarity with Ukraine, as well as a symbolic gesture to mark Europe Day, which falls on May 9 every year. Vysochanska will lead a group of 27 other athletes representing all European Union member states.
“It’s a way to really celebrate Europe, its values and also to demonstrate our attachment to the European sporting model,” said Oudéa-Castéra. Ukraine received the green light last year to begin accelerated negotiations on EU membership.
“(Ukrainians) are facing this terrible war of aggression and we really want to express that we support them as best we can,” she added. “This is unity. This is hope. This is solidarity. And we want them to win.”
Marseille celebrated the arrival of the flame with great fanfare on Wednesday, with more than 230,000 people attending the ceremony in the Old Port, according to the city’s mayor, Benoît Payan.
“It’s just amazing, just magical,” said resident Amel Sekko. “We needed this. We have never had events or beautiful things like this in Marseille.”
Mouna Boulhas, another Marseille resident, said: “It’s something you must experience at least once in your life.”
During the Games, the sailing competition and some football matches will be held in Marseille.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
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AP journalists Jeffrey Schaeffer, Nicolas Garriga and Oleg Cetinic contributed to this story.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
