In an event that coincided with the timely premiere of Mickaël Gamrasni’s Olympiques! La France des Jeux, the Olympic flame made a detour from its relay route through France to make a stop at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this week.
Not until mid-June will the City of Film officially welcome the Olympic Torch.
Between 17th and 18th June, the flame is set to pass through the Alpes-Maritimes, visiting towns and cities including Cannes, Nice, Antibes and Grasse as well as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Valberg and Valdeblore-La Colmiane.
However, on 21st May, the flame and its handlers were given a special dispensation to make a stop at the Palais des Congrès et des Festivals.
French athletes including Arnaud Assoumani, Nelia Barbosa, Alexis Hanquinquant and Marie Patouillet were also invited to attend the symbolic event. They passed the Torch between them at the top of the red carpet, each clearly moved by the moment.
“What a joy it is to welcome such a host of Olympic stars,” said Iris Knobloch, President of the Cannes Film Festival, and Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate, in a joint statement. “We look forward to continuing to write the great history between sport and the Seventh Art, and to delve with as much fervour as happiness into a century of participation in the Olympic Games, which have left an indelible mark on our collective memory.”
Later that evening, documentarian Mickaël Gamrasni screened his new film, Olympiques! La France des Jeux. Watching on were a host of French former and current athletes and sports personalities, many of whom feature in the movie.
The film, produced by France Télévision, presents three generations of French Olympians, who speak of their country’s special relationship with the Games. Among those interviewed are David Douillet, Guy Drut, Jean Galfione, Céline Gerny, Laura Flessel, Laure Manaudou and Cédric Nankin.
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Photo source: Paris 2024, Facebook