The flame, a symbol of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, was lit on April 16 in Greece, before being sent to a ship bound for Marseille, where swimmer Florent Manaudou will be the first bearer of the fire. The city has already announced an exceptional program for those two days.
France 3 Provence-Alpes highlights the festive program hour after hour.
11:00 a. m. : Start of the Belém Nautical Parade in the northern port of Marseille. For the occasion, 1,024 boats will host the three-masted boat and will pass “as close as possible to the coast”, according to the city council. , so that spectators can enjoy the show.
The Old Port will also be pedestrianised from 11. 00 am and various activities will be organised, such as an escape game, a photo booth and a DJ set, until 5. 00 pm. Giant screens will broadcast the arrival of the Olympic bonfire and will remain open.
11:15-13:15: On the water, there will be a series of jousting and soft sail demonstrations, classic oars in front of the Grand Harbour and then in front of the Corniche de Malmousque, Marseille boat shows and rowing.
13:15-14:00: Nautical occasions are moved to the southern roadstead. The Belem will extend the Corniche to Pointe Rouge, before heading to Friuli. They will accompany you through soft sails, classic boats and canoes.
2:00 p. m. : Handibasketball and breakdancing animations will be installed in the Old Port and a live fresco will be created.
3:30 p. m. : A final nautical parade will take place in the north port. The Belem will parade surrounded by 20 classic candles.
5 p. m. : end of the nautical parade and preparation of the Nativity scene for the front of the Old Port.
7:00 p. m. : Belem and the flame will enter the Old Port for a “spectacular and unprecedented welcoming ceremony,” according to the city council’s website.
7:45 p. m. : The Olympic cauldron will be lit in the Old Port.
9 p. m. : Rappers Soprano and Alonzo perform a free concert to celebrate the event.
Outside the Old Port, other activities will take place during the day, such as a performance by the Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra at 7 p. m. on the lawn of the Palais du Pharo, and various exhibitions from 2 p. m. to 2 p. m. at five o’clock in the afternoon on the level of the Hôtel de Ville or on J4.
08:20: Exit from the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde fire (6th arrondissement), towards Place Estrangin (6th), forty-five minutes later. The fire will cross Vauban Boulevard and Breteuil Street.
09:20: Departure from the Kennedy Corniche (7th arrondissement) to the Lighthouse Palace (7th arrondissement) at 09:00.
11:10 a. m. : departure in the direction of the giant letters “Marseille” in the 15th arrondissement, until 11:20 a. m.
11:35 a. m. : The chimney will depart from the Palais du Pharo (7th arrondissement), arriving at the Cité Internationale de Arenc at 1:15 p. m.
From 2:10 p. m. to 2:30 p. m. : the Olympic flame will circle the Font Obscure park twice in the 14th arrondissement.
3:30 p. m. : departure from the Dôme, in the 4th arrondissement, and arrival at the Palais Longchamp (4th arrondissement) at 4:40 p. m.
Between 4:45 p. m. and 5:05 p. m. : two laps in the park of the Moline Angels, in the 12th arrondissement.
5:40 p. m. : Departure from Périer (8th arrondissement), heading to the Vélodrome stadium (8th) for an Olympic cauldron rite via Soprano at 7:20 p. m.
At the same time, the city councils of all districts, with the exception of 7 and 1, will organize activities on May 9.