The suspense remains a few hours before the opening ceremony as to who will light the Olympic flame this Friday evening.
A few hours before the official start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the lighting of the Olympic flame at the end of a historic opening ceremony on the Seine, the name of the person who will light the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens has still not been revealed by the Organizing Committee. While many details have been presented in recent days regarding the opening ceremony, the identity of the last torchbearer is the best-kept secret of these Olympic Games. So much so that according to the President of the Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet, this person is not even aware of it! He actually indicated on France Inter this Friday, July 26, that the last torchbearer would not know until today. “I plan to notify the last torchbearer today to try to keep confidentiality and a bit of surprise.” Before adding, “so he or she doesn’t know.”
The Evidence Marie-José Pérec
Three-time Olympic champion, Marie-José Pérec’s name has been on everyone’s lips for several weeks. Her status as an Olympian, her records, … Everything about her career and her track record makes her an ideal candidate to light the cauldron tonight. But she herself doesn’t believe it, and thinks that this honor will go to Zinedine Zidane. “I think it will be Zinedine Zidane… If I were chosen, it would really make me super happy. I would be very touched. But if it were up to me to choose, I wouldn’t just choose one person to light the cauldron. As I said last winter, at the Étoiles du Sport in Tignes, I would choose a disabled man and woman, as well as an able-bodied man and woman. I would mix people together because that’s what France is today!”
The legend Zinedine Zidane
It is indeed one of the names that has been circulating the most in recent days. The 1998 world champion is for many French people the best French athlete of all time, and he enjoys popularity and an immaculate image. His media discretion also makes him a good candidate to be able to keep the secret until the last moment. However, Zidane has never participated in the Games, and does not have a particular history with the Olympics. This is why for Teddy Riner he will not be chosen “No, no, it will not be Zidane, 1000% sure!”
Jean Dujardin or another public figure
Seeing an actor like Jean Dujardin light the Olympic flame could also be a possibility. But the latter, after the episode of the Rugby World Cup last year, should not be tempted to repeat the experience. Omar Sy is also regularly mentioned, but that does not seem to be in the plans of the Organizing Committee.