All day sports activities
The Olympic flame lit up local sporting venues, including the 42-hectare leafy Le Bouscat racecourse, in tribute to the Gironde’s equestrian traditions. It also passed through the Jean-Antoine Moueix Stadium in Libourne and the UCPA Aqua Stadium in Mérignac, touched the grass on the banks of the Dordogne (Libourne), crossed the Garonne (Lormont) and sailed around Lake d’Agay.
Throughout the region, activities were organised to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch, involving local people: in Saint-Émilion, crowds gathered along the route, dancing to the rhythm of brass bands, while at Le Bouscat Racecourse, 70 children dressed in the colours of the Olympic rings shared their positive vibes with the spectators. In Libourne and Mérignac, sporting activities were organised, with two shows, freestyle football and breakdancing, giving spectators a taste of these disciplines.
Bordeaux was also immersed in the sporting spirit: members of the public gathered at Place des Quincans to try out surfing on simulators (a staple of the southwestern French sporting world), try their hand at shooting or take part in a game of giant table football. An Olympic torchbearer display was also held at the celebration site, further enhancing this memorable experience for the public.
Famous torch runners
Fans went wild to see so many champions among the 200 torchbearers. Pierre Durand, gold medalist in the team vault at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, won the torch relay in Saint-Émilion. Ghislaine Berger-Tarotino, France’s swimming champion of the 1970s and 1980s, handed the torch to Véronique Girardet, world skeet shooting champion.
Shortly afterwards, fencer Fabrice Jeannet, former French rugby team captain Thierry Dusautoir, rower Michel Andreu and French surfing champion Justine Dupont waved to the crowd. A multi-sport programme was organised. France’s breaking coach Omar Remich (B’Boy Chakal) was the penultimate torch bearer of the day.
He handed over the Olympic flame to one of the ambassadors of the torch relay, Thierry Marx. The chef, with his talent, his bold approach and his avant-garde flair, is flying the French flag on the international gastronomic stage. He had the honour of lighting the cauldron at the end of the celebrations in Bordeaux. Among the celebrities present was Tuvok12, an influencer famous for his positive communication.
Hockey, skateboarding and roller skating festival
Every day, unknown warriors also carried the Olympic torch, such as 85-year-old sports enthusiast Maxine MacGregor, the young skateboarder Capucine Chipoir (12 years old), amateur soccer player Anoushka André, and many others who stand up for others in their everyday lives, such as Sandra Rukhma, a middle school principal, or Stephanie Grina, who fights for greater inclusivity and accessibility in sports.
There was plenty of sport throughout the day. Two relay teams livened up the atmosphere in Bordeaux. The first relay was organised by the French Hockey Federation and was captained by Jean-Luc d’Alfeuille, a hockey player who competed in the Munich 1972 Games. d’Alfeuille started off with a torch in one hand and a hockey stick in the other. The para-hockey and street hockey fields were set up near the Miroir d’Eau, an iconic Bordeaux landmark.
The French Federation of Roller Skating and Skateboarding also organized a team relay on the banks of the Garonne River. Locals cheered the 24 riders at Les Chartrons skatepark, a popular hangout for enthusiasts of the urban sport. The relay was captained by Vincent Milou, who placed fourth in the street category at the Tokyo Olympics and was one of the top French athletes at the Paris Olympics.
After this kaleidoscopic day, the Olympic torch will head due north towards the Charente region, cruising through this unique corner of the world, visiting destinations such as Chambon and Cognac before concluding its journey in Angoulême.
