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 

Bienvenue à Paris - pour les Jeux Olympiques!

Arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport on 11 July marked my fifth touchdown at Paris since the early 2000s. 

Unlike previous visits, mostly for a few days of tourism, Olympic writing or the handover ceremony from Tokyo 2020, this time I'm setting up residence for several weeks.

The longer visit to the City of Lights is thanks, in part, to a certain national Olympic committee which initially (in early 2024) offered a long-term pre-Games volunteer assignment that was later reneged only after some nonrefundable accommodations were secured. 

But I'm not bitter -- in just two days I've gotten reacquainted with Paris, walked a couple dozen kilometers, seen three museums and stopped by Hotel de Ville (city hall) in relation to blogging credentials. Here's one happy writer easing into a summer of experiences on the heels of a week vacationing in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya, Turkey.  

All across central Paris there's a curious mix of activities in anticipation of the Games. Lots of construction, though most of the venues (except for the stadium seating along the Seine) appear to be in place and operational. 

Look of the Games banners and bunting are going up on a few more buildings each day. Not one person -- local nor tourist -- seems to know a thing about Olympic pin collecting traditions. 

But everyone knows the torch relay, and with today's national holiday hundreds of thousands will see Olympic torchbearers at iconic sites across the city, including the Arch de Triomphe, Petit Palace, Luxembourg/Senat and other destinations. After the morning parade my intent is to reconnect with the torch relay convoy at the Louvre, where the flame will visit Mona Lisa herself. Stay tuned for photos.

By the way, thank you for reading. If you made it this far, count yourself among the 851,375+ all-time visitors to this website. 

Will it reach 1 million by mid-August 2024? 

With appreciation to all readers, please share, comment and repost if you care to help achieve this ambitious goal in play since 2008. 

Photos by Nicholas Wolaver

Paris 2024 Unveils Nouveau Olympic Torch Design

Building upon last month's announcement of the torch relay route for next summer, Paris today revealed its 2024 Olympic torch design, with blended themes of equality, fluidity and tranquility. 

Or to be more precise, the new torch is "inspired by equality, water and peacefulness" according to press materials shared under embargo until today's unveiling in the French capital. 

On a press preview call last week, Paris 2024 officials shared numerous details in anticipation of the announcement du jour, the penultimate date for tomorrow's "one year to go" milestone for next year's opening ceremony.

When the design competition opened, each of the 10 entrants enjoyed near carte blanche options to dazzle the selectors. From a finalist field of three, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur earned the assignment "chosen for his poetic and highly symbolic approach, along with his ability to grasp the values and expectations of Paris 2024," according to this announcement. 

On the press call, Lehanneur also shared that organizers encouraged his team to submit multiple design proposals, but in spite of this option, they went all-in and did not deviate from the final, reflective concept that was at once elegant in its simplicity and complex in its operational features to withstand intense wind, rain or other forces of nature. 

"We wanted to be sure it achieved balance with a message," said Lehanneur. "We [later] discovered in the process that it is a super complex design to keep the flame beautiful and visible."

The Paris 2024 torch is sleek and original, for the first time equal in shape and curves from the center to its top and its base handle. The "perfect symmetry" features an "equator" of gold. 

Perhaps a figurative "toast" to the torchbearers, my take is each of the halves resemble stylized bottles of wine fused at their bases. 

While the top half of the torch is smooth with a Champagne-colored matte finish -- showcased in the press kit as "bead-blasted" -- the lower half is fluid and mirrors light like waves of, and reflections from, surf or a running stream, symbolic of the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay's planned journey across the Mediterranean Sea and four oceans. 

When I asked if this torch was designed for use beneath the surface -- like the flame sticks of Sydney 2000 and Sochi 2014 held by scuba divers -- officials confirmed there are "no plans" for this torch to be submerged, but that "new surprises" will be revealed during upcoming months, including the cauldron from the same firm.

The design's hollow, round top enables the fire within to burn up and out, but also a "flame slip" cut into the steel will encourage fire to wave outward "like a flag" as the torchbearer walks or jogs forward. 

Other facts about the new torch:

• Fabricated from 100% recycled scrap steel with equipment typical of auto manufacturing lines
• Finished with a high-tech coating that "cleans easy" while encouraging patina from flame ignition
• Weight is 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)
• Measures just over 27.5 inches (70 cm) long
• Widths = 1.38 inches (3.5 cm) to 3.94 inches (10 cm) 
• The smooth, groovy "waves" enable even nerveuse/nerveux torchbearers to get a grip
• While the torch exterior and assembly is tous Français, the inner workings rely in-part upon engineering used for the Tokyo 2020 torch design as well as fabrication in partnership with Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, which built the public art/attraction "Orbit Tower" at London 2012's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will install the cauldron as well as monumental Olympic rings of steel at iconic Parisian sites.

One surprisingly petit number for the Paris 2024 torches is the quantity produced: Only 2,000, which was a conscientious decision by organizers in the name of sustainability. 

I personally wondered, but stopped short of asking, whether they realize this vast reduction from over 10,000 may make the collector's market go fou furieux (berserk), but then, their mission had nothing to do with the relay's likely aftermarket. 

When more than one reporter pressed about the quantity, organizers explained that "some" (dozens? hundreds?) replica torches of the original size will be made, but not carried in the relay, for sponsor, educational/museum or ceremonial purposes. Miniature replica torches also will be produced, presumably for retail sale. 

Now that LVMH signed on as a Paris 2024 sponsor, maybe the torchbearer uniforms will be touched by Dior or Louis Vuitton.

Back to the inspiration behind Lehanneur & Co.'s bold work: In terms of equality, the parity of female:male entrants at Paris 2024 led to the reflective, symmetrical design from the center of the torch outward. 

In addition to the seas and oceans the flame will cross, Paris' "backbone" the Seine and "waves, reliefs and vibrations" influenced the fluid forms that resemble the "Ocean Memories" series of surreal furnishings in his New York studio's portfolio. 

Finally, the soft curves, rounded edges and gold touches via the 2024 Games' blended Olympic/Paralympic logo are intended to convey generosity and peace to those who witness the relay.

"Our intention was to break away from past designs" which Lehanneur described as "vaselike" or typically featuring a larger diameter at the flame end in the last several Olympiads. 

Videos posted to the design firm's Instagram account show some of the wind tests and other engineering feats -- such as slicing one of the "flame slips" with a steel cutting device -- are impressive. 

"Form is the substance which rises to the surface," said one of the greatest French writers of all time. Of the Paris 2024 torch design, I think Victor Hugo would, and all of France should, be proud. 

Most photos via Paris 2024 press preview documents; Eiffel Tower reflection image by Piotr Jacqewski/Getty Images. 

Paris 2024 Unveils Grand Relais de la Flamme

Want to help the Olympic flame reach Paris? 

There's still time for nominations -- deadline 15 July -- for those seeking to fill one of the 10,000 torchbearer segments unveiled this Olympic Day. 

Each torchbearer will transport the flame about 200 meters, or just over 650 feet, which is shorter than my occasional Midtown Atlanta walks for lunch at Mary Mac's Tea Room. 

In press materials, this is estimated at four minutes per segment for the average torchbearer. Less officially that's 19 to 22 seconds for Usain Bolt or Florence Griffith-Joyner, respectively, the world and Olympic record holders for the same distance. 

With help from Google Translate, I call it la petite segment (though la petite tranche sounds more dramatic). 

During an online media preview held Tuesday morning, 2024 Olympic press team members showcased next year's torch relay route and other details under embargo until noon today in Paris. Since the first media question on the call regarded the in-progress police raid at Paris 2024's headquarters, it was not immediately clear how much resonated with other reporters in attendance. 

For this writer, the scope of next year's five-ringed route is impressive, as much for its blend of torch relay traditions with new elements as for its first-time destinations exotiques. 

Of course, the map starts in Olympia, Greece, where the Hellenic Olympic Committee will welcome the host city to launch the relay with rays from the sun on April 16, with VIP and Greek runners helping whisk aloft torches toward an April 26 ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. 

Borrowing from past relays, the Olympic flame and its entourage will next travel by ship -- specifically aboard the triple-masted Belem -- embarking from the Port of Piraeus on April 27, heading westward to Marseille in time for a May 8 arrival ceremony. Historians may appreciate the Belem enjoyed its maiden voyage in 1896, the year Athens hosted the first modern Olympiad. 

I'm not sure how the route overlaps with past torch relays on French soil, but the chosen path generally hugs the southern coast and border -- including a hop to Corsica -- then north through several western towns until arriving at coastal Brest, where on June 7 things get intéressante thanks to the crew of another sailing vessel, the impressive Maxi Banque Populaire XI, capable of getting the Flamme Olympique across the Atlantic in eight days. This video provides a peek aboard.

Simultaneous to this oceanic crossing for the flame's first visits to Guadeloupe (June 15) and Martinique (June 17), other segments will be carried at ceremonies in French destinations including Guyana (June 9), Reunion (June 12) and French Polynesia (June 13), where weeks later Olympic surfers will ride the waves. Sidebar: Martinique is where Humphrey Bogart got quizzed RE: whistling in "To Have and Have Not."

Not sure how -- my guess is by jet (as it was not made clear in the press kit) -- but on June 18 the flame returns to France tout suite, where voilà, the route resumes in Nice for its five-week final march to the City of Lights. 

One noted curiosité: though the eastern map pinpoints a visit to 1924 Olympic host Chamonix, the route was charted sans Albertville and Grenoble, perhaps intentionally, which may leave each city's chambre de commerce to exclaim sacrebleu and others with their culotte dans une liasse.

No matter the possible flaming snubs, of the 2024 route -- it's a lot! 

Not the longest nor most elaborate torch relay, but definitely an expansive plan that will give tens of thousands of islanders or South American mainland and French residents a new or renewed option to experience the moving Olympic flame tradition. 

Those seeking to complete nominations may find helpful the Paris organizing committee's FAQ for the process.

As for the crew of Maxi Banque Populaire XI, they'll be looking for Mother Nature to follow Lauren Bacall's instructions to put [her] lips together and blow. 

Images courtesy Paris 2024, CFP on CGTN.com, and this Dailymotion link. Lauren Bacall photo via We Are Movie Geeks. Florence Griffith Joyner photo via Paul Hellstern/Daily Oklahoman