In a charged atmosphere, the Marseille artist received the Olympic torch from the hands of Paralympic athletics champion Nantenin Keita, daughter of Malian musician Salif Keita, who herself received it from Florent Manaudou, Olympic 50m swimming champion free in 2012 in London, the first bearer of the flame on French soil after his descent from the three-masted Belem.
“Paris-2024 has chosen two Olympic and Paralympic athletes for the arrival of the flame in Marseille. This first passing of the baton on French soil symbolizes the ambition of rapprochement and unity of the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11, 2024 ) and Paralympics (August 28-September 8)”, underlined Paris-2024.
“It’s magnificent, very beautiful”
“We succeeded in our bet for the unified French team, and it was important for us as athletes, and it was also important for the organizing committee, so well done,” declared Nantenin Keita, head of the visually impaired. Jul sang him a song, arousing the enthusiasm of the crowd gathered in the Old Port.
It’s a “quite special moment for us in Marseille, when we know the people of Marseille. We are here to honor when there is an event like this,” Laurent Pfister, who came with his wife and little one, told AFP. girl admire the arrival of the flame from the Pharo palace, on the heights of the port. “It’s magnificent, very beautiful,” adds the father of the family as the Patrouille de France passes through the sky.