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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

High security and fanfare welcome OIympic flame to port city of Marseille

The Belem arriving in Marseille on 8 May bringing the Olympic flame to France. © Pierre René-Worms / RFI

The 19th century French sailing ship "Belem" on Wednesday sailed into the southern port of Marseille carrying the Olympic flame – after its 12-day, 12,000-kilometre voyage from Greece. Some 6,000 police were deployed for the ship's arrival, with a highly choreographed ceremony marking the first major security test for organisers ahead of the Paris Olympics.

The police presence in Marseille is bigger than it was for Pope Francis’s visit to the city last September.

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