Slowly, the majestic boat approaches the Old Port under the admiring gaze of passing Marseillais, like a foretaste of the spectacle that awaits them on May 8. This Monday, the legendary Belem, one of the oldest European three-masted ships, carried out its very first mooring tests in preparation for the arrival of the Olympic flame. The opportunity for 20 minutes to find out a little more about this grandiose event which is being prepared in the greatest secrecy, with a series of surprises to come.
A long journey
The flame will arrive in Marseille aboard the Belem after twelve days of navigation from Athens. The flame will be transported with children on board who will make the crossing at the same time as the flame. It will arrive off the coast of the Phoenician city at the beginning of the afternoon before mooring at the quay at the end of the afternoon, according to Delphine Moulin, director of celebrations for Paris 2024. “The Belem will make a complete tour of the harbor, north and south, before mooring in the Old Port,” explains Delphine Moulin. And to rejoice: “It’s incredible symbolism. The boat was launched in 1896, at the start of the modern Games. » And assure: “It will be free with access to all. We want everyone to come and see. The fact that it can navigate in the harbor will also allow a certain number of boats to be involved. We want to create this enthusiasm, both in terms of water and land. »
A special device to protect the flame
On board, however, it will be necessary to ensure that the flame does not go out… or does not set the old boat, made entirely of wood, ablaze! A risk of which the organizers are aware and on which they are already working. “During the crossing, the flame will be in a lantern,” explains Delphine Moulin. We will therefore obviously be very careful when we need to take out the flame with the torch. This is why we will have to take all of this into account when writing the script. »
A fake floating athletics track
Once arrived at the Old Port, the Belem will place the bearer of the Olympic flame on a pontoon facing the Canebière, installed especially for the occasion. “This pontoon will be 400 m² and will be entirely made of polyethylene,” explains Bertrand Loutte of the company MarineFloor Europe in charge of taking on this challenge. Part of this pontoon will be, over a distance of 100 meters, all in length, and will take on the colors of an athletics track, so that the bearer of the flame will run on a floating athletics track placed on the sea Mediterranean. The flame bearer will then light the flame in a “cauldron”. Or ? “Not far from here,” smiles Delphine Moulin, who wants to keep a few more secrets about the scenario that awaits the Marseillais.
A concert at the end of the day
Once the flame arrives safely, a concert will also be organized “at the Old Port”, announces Delphine Moulin, director of celebrations for Paris 2024. Objective: “continue the party, and make May 8 a great moment popular “.