Olympic Torch Relay Lights Up Paris on Bastille Day

Sunday marked the French national holiday Bastille Day, which kicked off with a presidential military parade and air force flyover along Ave. Foch. 

The occasion also included the early afternoon start of a two-day tour of the 2024 Paris Olympic Torch Relay with FIFA legend Thierry Henry as the first runner du jour. 

In front of thousands of onlookers and media surrounding Rond-Point of Champs-Élysées, Paris Mayor Ann Hidalgo joined Paris 2024 lead Tony Estanguet and other VIPs assembled to cheer Henry as his torch was ignited from a minor's lamp source flame from Greece.

Eagle eye readers may also note the stylish, custom-made Louis Vuitton torch carrying case, which was in the middle of the road for about an hour -- with its own LV security detail -- before its star content was unveiled and handed to Henry. 

Donning summer gear, my camera, walking shoes and a media wristband, I kept up with a few of the relay entourage stopovers, starting with my own dash to Jardin du Luxembourg, where several runners assembled to receive their official torch relay keepsake, which is an impressive metal ring and presentation box. 

When asked whether they would have preferred to receive (or purchase) a torch, had that been offered (an option provided to past torchbearers in other Olympiads; Paris 2024 opted to make fewer torches), most torchbearers responded they were happy with the engraved souvenir. 

Torchbearers from this early afternoon stage included a youth worker from the French Senate (adjacent to the park), educators and world-famous pianist Lang Lang from China (I initially did not recognize him and was told he was "a scientist" -- he did this interview steps away from my conversations with other torchbearers) who captivated the attention of dozens of his nation's tourists who anxiously awaited selfie or autograph options. 

As the official torch relay convoy resumed its slow procession across Paris, I made way to the Louvre Pyramid, at which a mid-evening photo opp was hosted featuring the acclaimed artist JR. He spent a bit of time with media and a very young fan who reluctantly, albeit adorably, posed for photos with the torch (see below).

It's my understanding the shrieks of adoring fans near the Louvre -- reminiscent of The Beatles' arrival in the USA -- were waves of cheers for Kim Soek-Jin, also known as Jin of BTS and K-Pop fame.

In the media mixed zone for this segment of the relay, I spoke with a French physician and researcher who claimed to have lived in Atlanta during 1996. He was selected to carry the torch for his decades of research related to Alzheimer's disease -- bravo!

The torch apparently visited the Mona Lisa as well, before a brief courtyard lantern ceremony placed the Olympic flame in the capable hands of Olympic silver medalist and NBA Minnesota Timberwolves player Rudy Gobert. Here's some footage of that moment:

While Gobert and the entourage made their way east along the Seine, I was hustling in the same general direction toward Hotel de Ville, the Paris city hall site for the big finale. 

Thousands of invited guests enjoyed a live Paris Symphony and Opera performance during sunset as the torch relay's progress was televised on jumbo screens across the packed venue. By this time both my legs and camera batteries were kaput from several hours crossing the city -- it was fun to log a few initial pin trades with volunteers during this chill time.

Bookending the day, Mayor Hidalgo and Estanguet joined the live event's emcee on stage with a portable Olympic cauldron to green the final torchbearer, French tennis and pop music star Yannick Noah, entering as the astounding fireworks and drone display near the Eiffel Tour concluded. 

As the crowd dispersed, one additional media opp took place inside City Hall as the Olympic flame miner's lamp enjoyed an overnight stay in one of the building's public spaces, a nice resting point before another big day of torchbearers set for Monday. 

Photos by Nicholas Wolaver