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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Sian Baldwin

Olympic flame 2024: which famous torchbearers have had the honour this year?

France is hosting the summer Olympics for 2024, which officially kicks off with an opening ceremony on Friday July 26.

As always, in the lead-up to the opening, is the famous traditional torch procession.

Since April, when the torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, the torch has been on a journey across France and will make its way to its final destination, the capital Paris, to mark the start of the games.

It is the third time France has welcomed the Olympic torch to its shores, having previously done so for the Grenoble 1968 Olympic Winter Games and the Albertville 1992 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Here is what to know about the journey so far.

How many torch bearers are there?

Since May 2024, a total of 11,000 torchbearers will have formed a relay to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Games in France.

After being lit in Olympia, Greece, the Olympic torch was brought to France on board the majestic three-masted ship Bélem, crossing the Mediterranean from Athens to Marseille.

The Olympic Torch Relay then set out across France, highlighting its various regions and communities from the mainland to overseas departments and territories, offering as many areas in France as possible the chance to see the Olympic flame.

Where did the torch travel to?

The torch arrived in Marseille in France on May 8 and has been making its way across the country since then, and will end its journey this Friday (July 26).

In that time, it has travelled to many famous French sites, from the Lascaux caves, the Alésia archaeological site, and the medieval city of Carcassonne.

Along the way it has lit up many of France's architectural masterpieces, beginning with the world-renowned site of Mont Saint-Michel.

The full route it has taken can be seen here.

Famous faces carrying the torch this year

A number of famous faces have been responsible for holding the torch on different parts of the relay.

Torchbearers were picked for their contribution to France, whether that be at a national level or in local communities.

Here are some of the more famous faces to have carried the torch.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is on the right, with Arsenal teammates Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira (Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal legend and former French international Thierry Henry kicked off the Paris leg of the relay nearly two weeks ago.

He is the current coach of the U23 French team for Paris 2024 and spoke at the event while carrying the torch on the Champs-Élysées.

He said: "This is just extraordinary, truly a big moment! Besides, the family is watching.

"Having this opportunity to be able to participate (in the Games), not on the field of course, is really great! We are preparing with the [French U23] team, we will try to go as far as possible."

Charles LeClerc

The Formula 1 driver carried theOlympic torch in Monaco, which he said was special to him as it is his hometown.

He took to social media showing a picture of him holding the flame, with the caption: “Honored to have been chosen to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of my home country, Monaco, before it continues its journey to beautiful France ❤️”.

Halle Berry

(PA Archive)

Halle Berry participated in the Olympic torch relay ceremony in Cannes in June ahead of the Paris Games.

The Oscar-winning actress stood on the famed red carpet steps of Palais des Festivals and was joined by Thierry Fremaux, the director of the Cannes Film Festival.

Arsene Wenger

(Benoit Tessier / Reuters)

The legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was given the honour of carrying the Olympic flame in his native Strasbourg at the end of June.

He has been away from management since leaving the Emirates in 2018, but Wenger remains one of the best coaches to come from France and was awarded the honour of carrying the torch as a result of his work.

Anne-Sophie Pic

(Lionel Bonaventure / AFP via Getty Images)

Culinary maestro Anne-Sophie Pic, the most Michelin-starred female chef in the world, carried the Olympic Flame through Valence on June 20.

She was picked as that is the area she was born and raised in.

Anne-Sophie Pic said: “Carrying the Olympic flame is an incredible honour.”

Perrine Laffont

(Andreas Rentz / Getty Images)

French skier Perrine Laffont took the flame at the Center for Resources, Expertise and Sports Performance, in Font-Romeu, in the French Pyrenees, on May 15. She has appeared at the Olympics and won gold.

Salma Hayek

(Doug Peters / PA Archive)

The actress waved to fans as she took part in the torch relay in Versailles this Tuesday (July 23).

Hayek is tied to France through her husband François-Henri Pinault, the boss of luxury group Kering and CAA owner Artemis.

Snoop Dogg

(Christopher Polk / Billboard via Getty Images)

American rapper Snoop Dogg will carry the flame on what will be the final leg of the torch journey. The Californian rapper, who will be covering the Olympic Games for NBC this summer, will carry the Olympic flame this Friday, July 26, in the commune of Saint-Denis.

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