It’s done, the Olympic flame landed in Marseille on Wednesday, aboard the legendary Belem after leaving Greece on April 16. And this Thursday, the flame will begin the first stage of its long journey, exclusively in the Marseille city.
It will first leave the famous Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica around 8:20 a.m. before crossing Parc Borély, passing in front of the letters “Marseille” (giant Hollywood-style letters) then reaching the grand Palais du Pharo. The Parc de Font Obscure will also see the flame pass, as will the Dôme and the Palais Longchamp. Finally, the Olympic flame will travel to the Parc de la Moline before crossing Avenue du Prado and ending its journey near the Vélodrome stadium. The arrival is planned in the OM cauldron around 7:20 p.m.
Winner of the Champions League in 1993 with OM, former footballer Basile Boli will be the first to set off with the flame at Notre-Dame de la Garde. From Parc Borély to the Palais du Pharo, the former basketball star Tony Parker, the still active basketball player Nando de Colo and the former swimmer Frédérick Bousquet, among others, will carry the precious sesame. The actress Nicole Ferroni, the former 1500 meter specialist Fermin Cacho, the ex-pole vaulter Jean Galfione or the brilliant French skier Cyprien Sarrazin will take over.
The footballers Louisa Necib and Jenny Perret, the legend Jean-Pierre Papin, the Marseille Olympic midfielder Valentin Rongier, the singer Soprano, the ex-OM player Eric Di Meco and the iconic Didier Drogba will have the honor of carrying the flame to the Vélodrome. You can follow his journey live with commentary on the Figaro.fr website.