As the 2024 Summer Olympics approach, Paris is bustling with preparations and excitement. Among the notable events leading up to the Games, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to carry the Olympic flame on July 22 in Vigneux-sur-Seine, Essonne. This event will see the former professional tennis player and current sports executive carry the torch for 500 meters, providing significant visibility for the town.
Welcoming such a prominent figure requires meticulous planning. A security meeting is scheduled at the town hall to finalize the details, with over 250 police officers already mobilized for the event. Al-Khelaïfi, a passionate advocate for sports, has long campaigned for Qatar to host the Olympic Games in the future.
Interestingly, Sébastien Haller, a player from Dortmund who hails from Ris-Orangis, is also expected to carry the flame. Haller, an African champion with Ivory Coast, began his football journey at FCO Vigneux before advancing to Brétigny and then AJ Auxerre training center. The mayor of Vigneux, Thomas Chazal, has yet to confirm the participation of Al-Khelaïfi but expressed enthusiasm about the potential visit, noting the local children's admiration for the PSG president.
The town of Vigneux is fully embracing the Olympic spirit, with the Marc Alexandre municipal DOJO chosen by Senegal as a training venue for its judokas.
Meanwhile, Paris is gearing up for the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 26. The city aims to offer a fresh perspective on the Games, focusing on both the event and its residents. For those looking to immerse themselves in the Olympic atmosphere, several book recommendations provide insights into the Games and the host city. These include Stefan Ulrich's 'Favorite Places: Paris Travel Guide,' Ulrich Kühne-Hellmessen and Detlef Vetten's 'Olympics 2024,' and Siegmund Dunker and Harald Landwehr's 'Summer Olympics Paris 2024.'
In addition to the Olympic preparations, the traditional July 14 parade will see significant changes this year. For the first time since 1979, the ceremony will take place between Place Charles-de-Gaulle and Avenue Foch instead of the Champs-Élysées. The event will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France and highlight the connection between the military and Olympism. The parade will feature helicopters, units from the three armies, and a dynamic sequence of planes, culminating with the Patrouille de France.
