Carrying the Olympic Flame and the Paralympic Flame on the roads of France, the torchbearers will officially launch the start of celebrations throughout the country starting on May 8.

The Organising Committee of Paris 2024 Olympic Games has announced that of the 11,000 torchbearers, including 10,000 for the Olympic Torch Relay and 1,000 for the Paralympic Torch Relay, 80 pc have today received confirmation that they will be carrying the Torch on one of the two.

According to a press statement by the Paris 2024 organisers, the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Marseille, aboard the three-masted Belem on May 8, 2024, will launch the start of the journey of the torchbearers throughout France. The torchbearers will be of all ages, 50 pc are women and 50 pc are men, and they represent 100 pc of the French departments.

The organisers say that for almost three months, from May 8 to July 26, 10,000 Olympic torchbearers will meet French people in over 400 towns and cities, including five overseas regions of French Guiana, Reunion Island, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe and Martinique before the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

The organisers add that what they all have in common is that they share one of the three energies that shape the identity of the Torch Relay: the energy of sport, the energy of the communities or the energy of the regions.

“The Torch Relay is, above all, a human adventure, represented by the stories of each torchbearer. Be they athletes or sports enthusiasts, committed to their local communities or involved in meaningful community projects, the people we call the forerunners represent the richness and diversity of our society. With them, the Torch Relay will be a wonderful moment of openness, transmission and sharing. Congratulations to all our torchbearers, and we look forward to seeing you on the roads of France, from May 8, 2024, to experience this fabulous adventure together!” says Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President.

“The torchbearers we have selected have been chosen for their unique backgrounds and stories. Their role will be more than just passing on the Torch, they will become the bearers of a powerful message, spreading the unity that characterises the Olympic Games. By carrying the Flame, they represent openness, sharing and transmission between individuals, cultures and nations, reinforcing the idea that sport can inspire the world to unite in the celebration of performance, excellence and fair play. I sincerely thank all those who have placed their trust in us and shared a part of their story. Among them, we have selected consumers, young people from Sport dans la Ville, but also company employees, athletes, content creators, public figures, partners and customers,” says Claire Revenu, Coca-Cola General Manager, Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

“Banque Populaire is delighted to be involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays and to take this opportunity to shine the spotlight on those who are the pride of all our regions by making a name for themselves in their own region. With all the future torchbearers, we share success and energy in their undertakings. We look forward to sharing these unforgettable moments with them,” says Pierre-Laurent Berne, Banque Populaire Director of Development.

“As a sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, Caisse d’Epargne is proud to be able to shine the spotlight on the women and men who inspire our regions and help to create a bond by encouraging commitment and living together. The torchbearers will represent these contributions in the local context to which we are committed as regional cooperative banks,” says Jacques-Olivier Hurbal, Caisse d’Epargne Director of Development.