Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou becomes first torch carrier in France as relay heads to Paris

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou became the first Olympic torch carrier in France after the Olympic flame arrived in Marseille’s Old Port Wednesday on a majestic three-mast ship from Greece for the welcoming ceremony at sunset in the city’s Old Port.

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

The ship sailed into Marseille’s old port with the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, echoing from the embankment and a French Air force flyover with planes first drawing the five Olympic rings and then the red-blue-white colors of the nation’s flag.

People standing by a swimming pool watch the Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, being escorted by other boats when approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

The ship docked on the pontoon that reflects an athletics track and Manaudou carried the torch to mainland France as tens of thousands cheered and thousands of others waved from balconies and windows overlooking the festivities.

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

“We can be proud,” said President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony to welcome the torch.

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

“The flame is on French soil,” Macron said. “The games are coming to France and are entering the lives of the French people.”

Workers prepare a stage for the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. It left Athens aboard a ship named Belem, which was first used in 1896, and spent twelve days at sea.

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet said the return of the Olympic Games to France was cause for a “fantastic celebration.”

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, is escorted by other boats when approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

“As a former athlete, I know how important the start of a competition is. That is why we chose Marseille, because it’s definitely one of the cities most in love with sports,” added Estanguet, a former Olympic canoeing star with gold medals from the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Games.

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, is accompanied by other boats approaching Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Safety of visitors and residents has been a top priority for authorities in Marseille, France’s second largest city with nearly a million inhabitants. About 8,000 police officers have been deployed around the harbor.

People wait from the Mucem museum view point ahead of the arrival of the Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. After leaving Marseille, a vast relay route is undertaken before the torch odyssey ends on July 27 in Paris. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. In background is Notre Dame de la Gard church. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Thousands of firefighters and bomb disposal squads have been positioned around the city along with maritime police and anti-drone teams patrolling the city’s waters and its airspace.

People stand in the gardens of the Palais du Pharo, overlooking the old port, the day ahead of the arrival of the Olympic flame, in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

“It’s a monumental day and we have been working hard for visitors and residents of Marseille to enjoy this historical moment,” said Yannick Ohanessian, the city’s deputy mayor.

People stand in the gardens overlooking the Old Port, in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

The torch relay will start on Thursday in Marseille, before heading to Paris through iconic places across the country, from the world-famous Mont Saint-Michel to D-Day landing beaches in Normandy and the Versailles Palace.

From left to right, Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, Benoit Payan, Mayor of Marseille, and Deputy Mayor of Marseille, Samia Ghali, speak to press in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Heavy police and military presence was seen patrolling Marseille’s city center Tuesday, as a military helicopter flew over the Old Port, where a range of barriers have been set up.

Workers prepare a stage for the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

French Interior Ministry spokesperson Camille Chaize said officials were prepared for security threats including terrorism.

Workers prepare for the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

“We’re employing various measures, notably the elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit, which will be present in the torch relay from beginning to end,” she said.

Workers prepare for the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

The Olympic cauldron will be lit after the Games’ opening ceremony that will take place on the River Seine on July 26.

A red carpet is pictured before the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

The cauldron will be lit at a location in Paris that is being kept top-secret until the day itself. Among reported options are such iconic spots as the Eiffel Tower and the Tuileries Gardens outside the Louvre Museum.

The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is pictured above the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

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A boat with a inscription reading « Paris 2024 » sails at the entrance of the port of Marseille, the day ahead of the arrival of the Olympic flame, in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Barbara Surk contributed from Nice, France. AP journalists Jeffrey Schaeffer, Oleg Cetinic, Nicolas Garriga and Daniel Cole contributed to this story.

A boat with a inscription reading « Paris 2024 » sails at the entrance of the port of Marseille, the day ahead of the arrival of the Olympic flame, in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

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Workers set up the stage of the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

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Police patrol before the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

People enjoy a coffee on a balcony in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Workers prepare loudspeaker for the arrival of the Olympic flame in the Old Port of Marseille in southern France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)