Olympic Torch Flame of Paris 2024 is set to sail overseas from June 7 to 17 over six territories as a part of its Relay across the Oceans Relay.

The Organising Committee of Paris 2024 Olympic Games is set to give a new dimension to the Torch Relay and prepare French people from the four corners of the globe to welcome and celebrate the Games by transporting the Olympic Flame to six overseas territories.

According to a press statement by the organisers, the Olympic Flame will embark on a journey from June 7 to 17, visiting six overseas territories located in three of the world’s five oceans. It will travel toFrench Guyana in the Atlantic Ocean on June 9, to New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean on June 11, Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean on June 12, French Polynesia on June 13, Guadeloupe on June 15 and Martinique on June 17 in the Atlantic Ocean.

The organisers say that these overseas territories, which lend to the richness and uniqueness of the country, will be illuminated by the forerunners of the Torch Relay to spread the call to the Games across the oceans.

They add that the Oceans Relay will be represented by a major sporting event that is the crossing of the Atlantic aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, the famous Ultim skippered by Armel Le Cléac’h. The Olympic Flame will leave Brest in a spirit of celebration and unity, with a grand parade. Armel Le Cléac’h and the first success crew will take the flame to the West Indies for an historic moment. The Ultim will arrive in Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe on June 15 before changing crews and setting sail again for Martinique on June 16.

The Olympic Flame will successively illuminate French Guyana, New Caledonia, Reunion Island and French Polynesia.

The statement adds that the transatlantic crew will be led by Armel Le Cléac’h, a key figure in ocean racing and the fastest round-the-world yachtsman in a monohull, in partnership with Sébastien Josse, the famous French yachtsman. The other four members of the crew brings Marie-José Pérec, one of the greatest legends of French sport, Marine Lorphelin, one of the very first ambassadors to be involved in the Torch Relay, Alexis Michalik, a prodigy of French theatre and Hugo Roellinger, a French chef with two Michelin stars.

The organisers add that the second crossing of the Banque Populaire Ultim between Guadeloupe and Martinique will showcase six athletes from the French overseas territories. Armel Le Cleac’h and Sebastien Josse will be accompanied by an unprecedented crew of sportspeople from the French overseas territories, accompanied by Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024 and patron of the boat Laura Flessel is one of the legends of French sport, Coralie Balmy from La Trinité in Martinique, Kéni Pipérol-Dampied, a 27-year-old skipper from Paris and Guadeloupe native and surfing genius Thomas Debierre.

“The Oceans Relay will be an exceptional chapter in the Paris 2024 Torch Relay. It is both an unprecedented sporting adventure, led on the Maxi Banque Populaire XI by Armel Le Cleac’h and his two legendary crews, and also a beautiful opportunity to highlight the diversity of the landscapes of the six overseas territories visited. In keeping with our desire to have Games wide open, the Oceans Relay Forerunners will bring the magic of the flame to the French people on the other side of the world,” says Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.

“We would like to thank Banque Populaire, one of the Presenting Partners of the Torch Relay, for enabling us to offer such moments of sport and emotion. Thanks also to the athletes and celebrities for taking part in this adventure and making it all the more symbolic. I look forward to seeing you in Brest on June 7 for the great departure!” Estanguet adds.

“As a bank committed to sailing for nearly 35 years, it is obviously an immense source of pride to be able to bring the Paris 2024 Olympic flame to the Caribbean region on board our boat. This event is an opportunity for Banque Populaire to celebrate all the successes that make our territories so influential. Firstly, with the composition of the two original crews celebrating inspiring personalities and highlighting French excellence. Then, through all the French people who worked to build this boat, which brings together the very best in terms of technology and innovation,” says Pierre-Laurent Berne, Director of Development Banque Populaire at Groupe BPCE.