The Olympic flame in Paris: "The relay is really beautiful".

The Olympic flame arrived in Paris on Sunday, July 14, after a journey that began on April 16 in Olympia, Greece. For two days, the flame will travel around the capital, visiting emblematic sites, relayed by 540 torchbearers, many of them Parisians. It will set off again on the evening of July 15 to cover the rest of France, before returning for the opening ceremony on July 26.

Escorted by some of the finest French horse riders - the Cadre Noir de Saumur - the Torch entered Paris during the July 14th parade. Carried by their chief equestrian, Colonel Thibaut Vallette, former gold medallist at the Rio Games, the flame was then entrusted to some twenty third grade students from Saint-Denis.

Thierry Henry, the esteemed Olympic soccer coach for Paris 2024, was poised on the Champs-Élysées, ready to start the two-day tour of Paris as the first relay runner. Whether you're a suburban schoolboy, an average Parisian or a former world soccer champion, emotions run high, and Titi was smiling like a kid.

In front of the Petit Palais, Bagus, originally from Indonesia, wouldn't have missed it for the world. "I'm studying in London at the moment, and I was in Barcelona on vacation. But I made a detour to Paris, especially for July 14th. I wanted to see the parade and the Torch. And I really enjoyed it. Being here is historic!

Comfortably seated on a bench, Patrick and Béatrice are also waiting. "We really wanted to get into the spirit of things because we're passionate about the Games! Seeing the flame means: this is it, it's starting!"

A little further on, Valérie, a French woman who lives in the United States, has also made a special return visit. "I'll only see it once in my life, that flame, so I wanted to come and enjoy the atmosphere!"

As she passes along Winston Churchill Avenue, in a spectacular setting, the crowd gathers to witness these precious moment: "There are people shouting and others that are keeping quiet, it's a really emotional moment," says Valérie.

"I'm delighted and proud of my city. I can't wait to attend the events now. I've bought tickets for places I love, like the Grand Palais, the Alexandre III Bridge and Roland-Garros. I really want to be impressed, to feel motivated and at the same time feel very small in front of these extraordinary athletes."

The flame made its entrance into the Petit Palais amidst tunes sung by the D.I.V.A group, a foursome of female opera vocalists, as an enthusiastic and elated crowd cheered on.

A little further on, at the Panthéon, Karim and his wife came as neighbors: "First to see the flame, but also to see the show!" Choreographer Yoann Bourgeois was invited to imagine a performance by a dozen dancers on a moving circular stage. "It was great fun! The music was really beautiful, and it accompanied the arrival of the flame! It was very moving, especially as it was carried by the young man who saved people during the Hyperkasher attack in 2015."

Lassana Bathily relayed the flame with Claudine Laslaz, a nurse anesthetist at the AP-HP hospital in Paris, who was also cheered by the crowd in front of the monument where the great men and women of the French nation are laid to rest.

William and his friend Clara are equally thrilled: they've just recognized the third Pantheon relay runner: "Oh look, it's Lang Lang, the world-renowned pianist!" The two young people make no secret of their excitement, hailing "the human relay, this disversity, it's really beautiful. There's a festive atmosphere, and in the current political climate, it's important for us all to reconnect."

At Notre-Dame, the public flocked to the forecourt to watch the flame go by. But above all, to witness a colorful performance. Soon, the orchestra and gymnasts of the Paris Fire Brigade arrive to celebrate the passing of the flame in front of one of Paris' most emblematic monuments. The crowd fell silent as the music swelled and the gymnasts moved to the rhythm of the torchbearers, including Timothée Bernardeau, a paraplegic firefighter from the Paris fire department. The joy was palpable among the audience.

Finally, Rayane Hechmi, a 17-year-old pianist, carried the flame to the Colonne de Juillet. Then, performers from the Paris Opera emerged, captivating the square with a rendition from Swan Lake. The spectacle culminated in a splendid torch display. The audience, who had been waiting with bated breath, burst into applause, yearning for more. But the Olympic flame still has a long way to go between now and July 26.