The Olympic flame has now been on its way to Paris for over three months – thanks to the active help of many world stars.
A long journey is coming to an end: On April 16th this year, the Olympic flame was lit in Olympia, Greece – next Friday (July 26th) it will reach its destination for the ceremonial opening of the Summer Games in Paris. Around 11,000 people will then hold the Olympic torch in their hands and have carried it a small part of the way, as stated on the official website for the major sporting event. Among them are actresses, sports legends, royals… and Snoop Dogg (52).
The previous sponsors
The Olympic torch made its first sensational stop in mid-May, illuminating the already glamorous Cannes Film Festival with its light. The torch was carried down the red carpet on May 21 by French Paralympic star Arnaud Assoumani (38) and then ceremoniously raised by Delphine Ernotte (57), President of France Télévisions and the European Broadcasting Union.
About another month later, it made the rounds of Cannes once again – the American star Halle Berry (57) took on the honor of carrying the torch for part of the way and carried it along part of the Boulevard de la Croisette. Other prominent torchbearers that day included the American sports stars Megan Rapinoe (39, soccer), Paul Rabil (38, lacrosse) and Shaun White (37, snowboard).
Immediately afterwards, the fire then swept through the Principality of Monaco. Prince Albert (66) welcomed the fire in front of the Prince’s Palace together with Princess Charlène (46) and her twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques (9) and contributed a few meters of the way. It must have been a special feeling for both of them – after all, they both have a history with the Olympics. Princess Charlène took part in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as a swimmer, and Prince Albert competed as a bobsledder for Monaco several times between 1988 and 2002 – of course at the Winter Games.
Football legend Thierry Henry (46) was also given this honour. Around two weeks ago, he carried the torch along the famous Champs-Élysées boulevard in Paris. It was also an honour for him in more ways than one – as coach of the French U23 football team, he will soon be in the medal competition himself. However, another Arsenal great had beaten him to it: cult coach Arsène Wenger (74) was allowed to carry the Olympic flame through his hometown of Strasbourg at the end of June.
Oscar nominee Salma Hayek (57) also recently took part in the torch relay. She proudly posted a photo showing her with the torch in the magnificent corridors of the Palace of Versailles. She wrote: “Yesterday I had the honor of carrying the Olympic flame, a symbol of light, hope, peace and unity. If you believe in these values, rest assured that you have accompanied me every step of the way.”
These stars are still waiting
For the last round before the opening ceremony, the star power will be concentrated once again. The US rapper Snoop Dogg will be one of the bearers of the Olympic torch. The music star will carry the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis, a suburb in the north of Paris where the Olympic Stadium is located. Incidentally, the organizers have now announced that his US colleague Pharrell Williams (51) will also do so.
Other torchbearers expected in the city on Friday include French actress Laetitia Casta (46), French rapper MC Solaar (55) and Ukrainian former pole vaulter Sergei Bubka (60).
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
