The eight-time Olympic Champion from Jamaica was the special guest of Paris 2024 for the presentation of the next Olympic and Paralympic torch on the Seine in Paris. He received the torch from the hands of Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet while surrounded by a hundred French athletes and IOC President Thomas Bach.
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Torch has made its debut.
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With its design unveiled Tuesday morning (25 July), the torch was presented hours later to athletes and other guests on a boat on the Seine. The display served to mark one year to go until the Opening Ceremony in Paris.
The torch was first held by Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, before it was passed over to a special guest: Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth.
In Paris for the celebration of One Year To Go until the 2024 Games, the legend with eight Olympic gold medals received the torch that will be carried by thousands across France.
Bolt then spoke on the boat which will be used by the French delegation during the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony.
“I’m very happy to be here,” said the 100 and 200m world record holder who retired in 2017. “Paris has always been a city that I enjoyed competing and hanging out in. I’m excited for the Olympics next year. I’ll be here with my family.”
On 26 July 2024, the Opening Ceremony of Olympic Games Paris 2024 will take place on the Seine in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators.
“Thinking of this Opening Ceremony already gives me goosebumps today,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “When you imagine being an athlete on such a boat in front of thousands of spectators welcoming you and your team, it will be a unique, emotional experience for the athletes and for all of us.”
Bolt, who said hello to the tourists on the Bateau-Mouche sailing on the Seine, was also enthusiastic about next year’s ceremony.
“I think it’s gonna be one of the best, if not the best Opening Ceremony. Imagine everybody standing outside, across the bridges cheering people up. It was never done before…”
Spectators will also be at the heart of the Games, especially at the Champions Park, installed in the Trocadéro at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. At Paris 2024, all of the medallists will go there to celebrate their accomplishments with the fans.
Hundreds of French Olympic and Paralympic fans were also present on Tuesday for the celebrations of this symbolic day on the Port Debilly, where the boat made a stopover.
Against the backdrop of fans singing, Bolt and Estanguet came to the podium, with the duo putting on a show that included dance moves from the Jamaican, as well as his signature “lightning bolt” pose.
“It’s such an honor to have Usain Bolt a year before the Olympic Games,” said Maimouma, a French woman present for the celebration, before talking about Champions Park. “It’s so nice to share those emotions and those celebrations with everyone and it’s important to show athletes are close to the people. The Olympic Games are for everyone.”
“It is a moment full of symbolism,” said Maxime, who hails from Wissous, in the south of Paris. “It’s been 100 years since Paris hosted the Games and for us, as young people who love sport, it’s going to be special.”
The next Games take place in a year, and the Olympic qualification period has already begun. Athletes will give everything they have to try to win a ticket to the biggest sporting competition in the world, and this pre-Olympic year is essential.
On the boat, some of the French athletes offered advice, including Laure Boulleau, a female footballer who finished fourth at London 2012.
“The biggest challenge is to be in shape and not get an injury. But as the French athletes will be at home, they will have to find the right balance between having too much and not enough motivation so they don’t get too tired.”
For Luc Abalo, a triple Olympic handball champion (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Tokyo 2020), the athletes will have to do the impossible.
“Don’t think about the Games,” advised the lefthanded French player, who retired after Tokyo 2020.
With such excitement about the next Olympics, it’s difficult to forget about what’s at stake. But Jamaican great Usain Bolt may just have the recipe for success.
“Enjoy the experience, work hard and believe in yourself and in your dreams,” he said.
