In the historic site of the stadium that hosted the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Olympic Flame will tonight be handed over to France and to Tony Estanget, president of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.

Then, the Olympic Flame will arrive at the port of Piraeus where it will “board” tomorrow, Saturday, at the historic port of Belem, bound for Marseilles, in the south-east of France.

The Olympic Flame will “enter” France through Marseille, founded by the Greeks in 600 BC, as Samia Galli, deputy mayor of Marseille, said on April 16.

The Flame will arrive in Marseille on May 8, where around 150,000 people are expected to welcome it.

Before entering the Old Port, Belem will “parade” throughout the port of Marseille and will be accompanied by 1,024 boats, while various entertainment activities are planned.

“We have everything set up for the presence of 150,000 people in an area that includes the Old Port, the end of the Canebière – an emblematic artery of the center of Marseille -, the Pharo gardens (which dominate the Old Port) and the Place aux Huiles”, also in the center, Mrs. Galli explained. The evening will close with a concert by Marseille rappers Soprano and Alonzo.

On May 9, the Olympic flame will begin its journey to France from Marseille, with “visits” to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Stade Vélodrome.

It will then cross the country, also passing through the Antilles and French Polynesia, to arrive in Paris on the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Games, on July 26.