Paris 2024 Olympic Games: the flame has arrived in Marseille, discover the surprise guest who lit the Olympic cauldron

Florent Manaudou was the first bearer of the flame on French territory. MAXPPP – GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

The Olympic flame arrived in Marseille this Wednesday, May 8, marking the starting point of the torch relay throughout the country until the opening ceremony on July 26.

The first bearer of the Olympic flame on French soil had been known for a while. Florent Manaudou, Olympic champion in the 50m freestyle in London in 2012, had the honor of coming down from Belem and presenting the flame to the Old Port.

In an incandescent atmosphere, he passed on the precious sesame to the Paralympic 400m champion in Rio in 2016, Nantenin Keita. The champion ran her 200m side by side with the third torchbearer. With a hood over his head, he hid his identity until the end. Then the Old Port burst into flames when it came into broad daylight.

Le rappeur JUL est le troisième porteur de la flamme olympique à Marseille. 🔥💙🤍

🎥 @franceinfo

pic.twitter.com/kDjPCCqnsJ

— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) May 8, 2024

Jul lit the cauldron

The rapper Jul, icon in Marseille and superstar of French rap – he filled a Stade de France and a Vélodrome in a few seconds –, is the celebrity who lit the Olympic cauldron in the Marseille city. A first surprise which had its effect, and which worked!

The show continues in the evening in Marseille. Shows, concerts, entertainment… The party is going to be beautiful, in the wake of a crazy day marked by fireworks, the French patrol, Olympic rings drawn in the sky, a resplendent Belem… hellip; The Olympic adventure is officially launched on French territory. She's just getting started.