Olympic Flame Arrives in Marseille Ahead of Paris Games

The Olympic flame arrived in Marseille, France after a 12-day journey at sea. The flame was carried ashore by Florent Manaudou and lit the cauldron by Marseille-born rapper Jul, marking the start of a 12,000-kilometre torch relay across mainland France and its overseas territories. The torch will be carried by approximately 11,000 people during its 79-day journey, which will culminate in Paris on July 26 with the start of the Olympic Games. The transfer of the flame from the historic ship Belem to land is a significant event for the Olympics, aiming to build excitement and momentum after recent controversies surrounding ticket prices and security concerns.