JO Paris 2024
Marseille welcomes the Olympic Flame
Mythical
Transported by the Belém From Greece, the Olympic Flame arrived in Marseille on Wednesday, 8 May 2024.
To welcome the legendary three-masted ship for 48 hours of festive celebrations, the Old Port has donned its Olympic attire: a pontoon specially installed for the occasion has been transformed into a hundred-metre-long athletics track.
Expectations
Commissioned to decorate the pontoon by Aimko Paris, under the management of LNT SUD, the agency AUCOP engaged us to contribute to this exciting project, which demanded a commitment and precision commensurate with the occasion.
After a 12-day crossing and having covered 1,200 nautical miles between Athens and Marseille, the Belem made a majestic entry alongside more than a thousand boats into the Phocaean city, accompanied by genuine popular fervour, in the presence of the President of the Republic on land and the Patrouille de France in the air.
Entrusted to Florent Manaudou, the first runner on French soil, the torch was lit just before the Belem docked. The swimmer then passed it on to Nantenin Keita, Paralympic athletics champion, and it was the singer Jul who lit the Olympic Cauldron.
To welcome them onto the Olympic pontoon specially set up for the occasion, we printed the official Paris 2024 logo, measuring 7 x 7 m, on adhesive transfer to allow it to be affixed to the athletic carpet.
To clad the sides of the pontoon, our teams produced 350 metres (60 cm high) of virgin canvas tarpaulins with finished pockets, weighted with lead chain so that they would dip into the sea.
We also dressed two reception desks with 10 mm printed PVC, applied using double-sided adhesive, the first in the Olympic Games colours and the second in those of a sponsor.
Our teams also produced 200 m2 of black backcloth material to dress the stage on which Alonzo and Soprano gave a free concert right in front of the Belem to close the day.
An unforgettable historic day!