France celebrated its national Bastille Day on July 14, 2024, with a unique military parade that incorporated the Olympic flame, marking a convergence of national pride and Olympic spirit. The event, held on Avenue Foch instead of the traditional Champs-Élysées due to Olympic preparations, featured a reduced military presence of 4,000 participants, down from 6,500 last year.The parade paid homage to the 80th anniversary of France’s liberation from Nazi occupation while showcasing the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony, which included aerial displays by 22 helicopters and 45 planes, including two American and two British aircraft.A highlight of the event was the arrival of the Olympic flame, carried by Colonel Thibault Vallette, a gold medalist from the 2016 Rio Olympics, on horseback. The flame was then passed to a young athlete and other teenagers in white uniforms, forming the Olympic rings in front of the presidential tribune.Following the parade, the Olympic flame began its 48-hour journey through Paris, visiting iconic landmarks such as the Panthéon, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre. Over 540 torchbearers, including celebrities like Thierry Henry, will participate in the relay.This unique celebration comes at a time of political uncertainty in France, with the government in limbo following snap elections that resulted in a hung parliament. Despite these challenges, the event aimed to rekindle the Olympic spirit and unite the nation as it prepares to host the Summer Games starting July 26.
Key points
- France combined its Bastille Day parade with the Olympic flame relay, symbolizing national pride and Olympic spirit.
- The parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of France’s liberation while showcasing the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
- The Olympic flame began a 48-hour journey through Paris, carried by over 540 torchbearers.
- The celebration occurs amid political uncertainty in France, with a hung parliament following recent elections.
