In the pure tradition of the Games, like every two years, the organizers of the Olympics made the trip to Greece, to Olympia more precisely, cradle of the Olympic Games of the modern era, for the lighting of the Olympic flame. As mayor of the host city of this global event, Anne Hidalgo is of course part of the French delegation.
“We launched this Paris candidacy since 2015 with Tony Estanguet and many others,” recalls the mayor of Paris on France 2. “We have been talking, we have been thinking about 2024 for seven years now, it is coming to fruition there because in Paris we have worked, on the infrastructures, the city is really preparing to welcome the whole world. »
Before the torch sets foot on French soil for the first time on May 8 in Marseille, it will be lit this Tuesday after a perfectly oiled ritual attended in particular by Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, and Anne Hidalgo.
A “symbolic and historic moment”
The latter was proud to witness “this symbolic and historic moment with great solemnity and emotion”. For the mayor of the French capital, it is a moment “which makes us say that we are there, that it is the moment, here we go!” »
Anne Hidalgo was keen to point out that the Olympic flame would pass through the streets of the City of Lights for the first time on July 14 and 15, before returning to the capital on July 26, the day of the opening ceremony. “It will be a great moment where we will be able to show what we are as a people, as a society,” she declared. Before paying tribute to the flame bearers, “beautiful people who are, at all levels of society, involved in sport, associations, economic life, solidarity”.
“So it’s very, very strong to be here, it’s the culmination of seven years of work, it’s a huge investment and it’s recognition to be here today,” concluded Anne Hidalgo a few hours before the official lighting of the Olympic flame, ready to cross 64 territories before lasting in Paris.