What's happened
The Olympic flame arrived in Marseille aboard the historic Belem ship, kicking off a 79-day relay across France and its territories. The torch relay commenced in Marseille with European athletes and Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska participating in a symbolic moment for her war-torn country.
Why it matters
The arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille marks the start of a significant journey across France, building excitement for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The participation of European athletes and Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska adds a poignant touch, highlighting unity and resilience amidst challenging times.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the torch relay in Marseille featured a collective of European athletes and Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska, symbolizing unity and celebration. The New York Times emphasized the grand arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille, attended by President Macron and a large crowd. The Guardian highlighted the extensive torch relay involving various individuals, including survivors of terror attacks and a 102-year-old French Resistance veteran.
How we got here
The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia and traveled to Marseille aboard the Belem ship, steeped in historical significance. Marseille, a city with a rich sporting heritage, welcomed the torch with enthusiasm, setting the stage for a memorable relay across France and its territories.
Common question
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Marseille is the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in France. It is located on the Mediterranean coast near the mouth of the Rhône.
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The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Paris is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,150,271 residents as of 2020, in an area of 105 square kilometres.
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Florent Manaudou is a French competitive swimmer, an Olympic champion of the 50-meter freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, and the younger brother of Laure Manaudou, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.