2024 Olympic Torch Relay Follow the Events in Provence

On April 16, 2024, the Olympic tradition continues in Olympia, Greece, with the Flame lighting. After a relay journey through the Greek mainland and a sea crossing on Belem, a beautiful three-masted sailing ship, the Flame, arrives in Marseille’s Old Port on May 8. From the Mediterranean city, 10,000 runners will participate in the Olympic Torch Relay to Paris for the opening ceremonies on July 26.

Here are some fun events on the agenda in the first few days of the Flame’s journey through Provence.

©Département Bouches-du-Rhône

Olympic Torch Relay

On May 9, Marseille’s residents and visitors will see the torchbearers at venues throughout the city. Then, the Olympic Flame will head to Toulon in the Var and Manosque in the Alpes de Haute Provence.

Visitor’s Guide to Marseille

On May 12, the Flame heads to Aix-en-Provence. Athletes and residents selected via a lottery will carry the torch along a five (5) kilometre route that ends by la Rotonde on the Cours Mirabeau. Here is a video of the route.

After the circuit in Aix-en-Provence, the Olympic Torch Relay travels through six (6) communes in the Bouches du Rhône. The locations are as follows: Cassis, Aix-en-Provence, Miramas, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, Eygalières, Istres, and ending the day in the Roman arena in Arles.

Visitor Guide to the Bouches du Rhône

©Département Vaucluse

On June 19, the Flame journeys to the Vaucluse, where 100 participants can move the torch along its route. The activities in this department get underway at 9h in the ochres near Rustrel and end around 17h30 in Avignon. Along the route, the Olympic Torch Relay will pass the market town of Apt, Isle sur la Sorgue, cycle to the summit of Mont Ventoux (the highest peak in Provence) and visit the Théâtre Antique in Orange.

Here is the official Paris Olympics website with all the details on the Olympic Torch Relay route and a cool video:

Olympic Events in Provence

From July 26 to August 8, the Bouches-du-Rhône will host sailing and soccer events in Marseille for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The full schedule and event details are available here.