Basilica of Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) – Pleyel district - Banks of the Seine (Saint-Denis) – Olympic Village (Saint-Denis) – Canals between Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris – Olympic Aquatic Center (Saint-Denis) – Stade de France (Saint-Denis) – Parc de la Villette (19th) – Banks of the Seine
Olympic fever has officially started to take over – especially if you’re lucky enough to be in the French capital, where the Olympic torch is currently en route to its final destination. And it looks like the torch relay in Paris, which will be part of the opening ceremony schedule, is set to be a properly star-studded celebration.
Eager to know where the flame is heading next? Here’s everything we know about the Paris 2024 Olympic torch relay, from the final torch bearers to the expected route.
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Where did the Olympic torch start?
The Olympic torch started its journey on April 16, in a ceremony held at the site of the original Olympic Games: ancient Olympia, Greece. After an 11-day relay in Greece the torch travelled from Athens to Marseille in France.
The Paralympic torch will be lit in Stoke Mandeville, England, at the end of August. It’ll then cross the Channel to continue its journey in France.
Paris 2024 Olympic torch bearers
A whopping 11,000 torch bearers, ranging from sportspeople to ordinary French citizens, have been tasked with carrying the Olympic flame this year. The torch travelled through France’s 64 territories before landing in Paris on July 14. A star-studded cast has been selected to carry the torch on its final route, including actress Salma Hayek and rapper Snoop Dogg.
What’s the route?
The torch, today in Seine-Saint-Denis, is in the 68th stage of its relay route, which will culminate tomorrow. The exact route will be part of the opening ceremony, but here are the stops it’s expected to visit, according to paris.fr.
Where is the Olympic cauldron lit?
It’s tradition to end the torch relay by igniting the Olympic cauldron, which will be done by the final torchbearer at the Jardins du Trocadéro Stadium, just over the Seine opposite the Eiffel Tower. Once the cauldron is lit, the 2024 Olympic Games will have officially begun.
How to watch
There are big screens and pop-ups across Paris showing the Games and the opening ceremony, but if you’re not going to be in Paris for the torch relay, you can watch on TV and online. Here’s our guide to watching the Olympics on TV.
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