Paris 2024, Didier Drogba lights Olympic brazier in Marseille

Paris 2024, Didier Drogba lights Olympic brazier in Marseille

The path of the Paris 2024 Olympic torch, which began yesterday on French soil with the first torchbearer, Florent Manaudou, continues in Marseille. Two local soccer heroes, Basile Boli, the historic defender of Olympique Marseille who scored the winning goal in the 1993 Champions Cup final against AC Milan, and Didier Drogba, are in the spotlight on Marseille torch day.

Boli è was the first to carry the torch, which left from the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde basilica; Drogba will be at the center of tonight’s festivities when the torch enters the Vélodrome stadium, already stormed by fans, particularly the most vocal fringe of ultrà the South Winners. Imposing police deployment, partly because of last night’s tensions at the concert on the Old Port, when the limit of 150,000 expected è was reached and the pressure of thousands of people wanting to get in generated panic and crowd movements.

Didier Drogba will have the honor that fell to rapper Jul yesterday, that of lighting the brazier, but this time the flame will come to life in the center of the Vélodrome. On its Marseille route, through the narrow streets and along the sea, always between two wings of large crowds, the torch è was also carried for short stretches by two pregnant women, who were applauded. For 200 meters, Albert Corrieri, a 102-year-old enthusiast, also raised it to the sky.

Tomorrow morning, the torch will leave Marseille to continue its journey in the region, the Var. It will then head north to arrive in Paris on the day of the inaugural ceremony, July 26. On its way, it will touch on places such as Mont-Saint-Michel, the beaches of the Normandy Landings — an event whose 80th anniversary heads of state from around the world will celebrate in June — the Mont Blanc Valley and the Palace of Versailles.