Olympic Torch Arrives In Paris With Bastille Day Celebrations

Photo: French Soccer Player Thierry Henry with the torch on the Champs-Elysées, in Paris on July 14, 2024

On Sunday, July 14, the Olympic Torch made its way to the French capital, with just less than two weeks to go until the official start of the Olympic Games. The Olympic torch passed through Paris as part of the annual Bastille Day military parade. French football star Thierry Henry began the relay with 220 torchbearers taking turns carrying the Olympic Torch.

“The Olympic Torch finally arrived in Paris for two days of celebrations in the heart of the city. With this arrival, the spirit of the 2024 Paris Olympics took over the entire capital, giving the Parisians a foretaste of the celebrations that await them during the Games.”- Olympics.com

The Olympics flame also made its appearance by traveling from the Panthéon to the Sorbonne and the Grande Mosquée de Paris, making its way to the capital, and then continued to the Champs-Elysées.

The route showcased Paris's splendor, featuring landmarks such as the Champs-Élysées, the majestic Grand Palais, the charming Petit Palais, and the sprawling 25-hectare Jardin du Luxembourg.

“The route of the Olympic Torch Relay lit up the French capital’s historical and emblematic sites. 220 torchbearers took it in turns to carry the Olympic Torch, from Thierry Henry to begin with on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées to Yannick Noah who lit the celebration cauldron in front of the Hôtel de Ville. The City of Paris organized an exceptional show with the Concert de Paris accompanied by the Radio France orchestra, followed by fireworks from the Eiffel Tower.”- Olympics.com

The Paris 2024 Olympics will officially commence on July 26 and conclude on August 11. An estimated 10,500 athletes from 206 nations are set to compete in 329 medal events.