After a twelve-day voyage, the Olympic flame arrived in Marseille from Greece

This was reported by the AFP agency.

The Olympic flame was lit in Olympia in mid-April and then the torch criss-crossed Greece until the end of the month. In Marseille, 1,024 ships were waiting at Belem to escort the 1896 sailing ship along the coast to the Old Port.

Belem should arrive there around six thirty. Olympic swimming champion Florent Manadou will bring the torch to the mainland and start the ceremony, which will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and around 150,000 people.

Security is overseen by approximately 6,000 members of the security forces, including dog handlers, special forces and snipers. “These are unprecedented security measures. Life in Marseille goes on, but under exceptional measures,” said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

On Thursday, the torch will set off on a roughly 12,000 kilometer long route across France. The first members of the baton will be former Olympique Marseille football stars Jean-Pierre Papin, Didier Drogba and Basile Boli, among others.

On its way to Paris, the Olympic flame will visit, among other things, five French overseas territories. Over ten thousand runners will take part in the relay and the torch will arrive in Paris on July 12. The Olympics will start on July 26.