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The Olympic flame has touched down in France, marking a significant milestone in the countdown to the Paris 2024 Games.
According to a ChannelsTV report, the ceremony will be greeted by a crowd of 150,000 people in the southern port of Marseille.
The flame's arrival signals the start of a 12,000-kilometer torch relay across France and its overseas territories.
With just 79 days until the much-hyped "iconic" Games, organizers hope this spectacle will ignite public excitement.
“It’s something we’ve been waiting for for a very long time,” said chief organizer Tony Estanguet. “It’s here. One hundred years after the last Games, the Games are coming home.”
France, the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement, is eager to showcase its Olympic spirit after the previous Games in 1924 and 1900.
The Paris 2024 opening ceremony on July 26th will be particularly historic.
Marseille's mayor, Benoit Payan, promises a blend of history and spectacle as the flame arrives at the historic port, founded by Greeks in 600 BC.
“We are going to do beautiful, grandiose, sober, and accessible at the same time," he said.
Approximately 6,000 security forces will safeguard the event amidst France's highest terror alert level.
“It’s completely unprecedented for the national police to mobilize so many people on the same day at the same place,” said regional police coordinator Cedric Esson.
The celebrations will feature fireworks, a live concert, and torchbearers like swimming star Florent Manaudou. Security remains a top priority throughout the torch's journey across France.
An anti-terror SWAT team, anti-drone operatives, and hundreds of security forces will ensure the flame's safe passage.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has warned about potential protests during the journey.
Despite some controversies, organizers remain focused on their promise of a "spectacular" opening ceremony on the Seine River as they aim to deliver a world-class Olympic experience in the City of Light.
