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) 
A sailing crew waits for the arrival of Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, ahead of a welcoming ceremony at the old port in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) 
Spectators on boats watch the torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday May 8, 2024. 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. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) 
French Paralympic athlete Nantenin Keïta, holds the Olympic flanked by first torch carrier in France French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou, left , and French rap artist Jul during the torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France. 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) 
French rap artist Jul holds the Olympic torch during the torch arrival ceremony 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. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
Spectators are reflected on the Ombriere structure during the Olympic torch arrival ceremony during the Olympic torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday May 8, 2024. 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. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) 
President of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet, left, French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron during the Olympic torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday May 8, 2024. 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. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) 
People attend a concert, with three-mast ship Belem in background, after the torch arrival ceremony in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday May 8, 2024. 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. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) 
People react after some collapsed and others panicked as it got too crowded in front of the stage for a concert after the arrival the Olympic flame from Greece at the Old Port 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. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) 
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 Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, approaches 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/Nicolas Garriga) 
Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, sails ahead of a welcoming ceremony in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) 
The Patrouille de France aerobatics demonstration aircraft leave a tricolor trail of smoke in the sky as the Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, enters the Old Port 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. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) 
Fireworks go off as the Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, enters the Old Port 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. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) 
A rainbow rises over the Old Port as the Belem, the three-masted sailing ship which is carrying the Olympic flame, arrives in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 to Aug.11, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) 
First torch carrier in France French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou holds the Olympic torch aboard The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship in the Old port of 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) 
First torch carrier in France French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou holds the Olympic torch after leaving The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship in the Old port of 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) 
French swimmer Florent Manaudou holds the Olympic torch on the French 19th-century three-mast ship Belem as it arrives in the Old Port of Marseille, southern France, Wednesday May 8, 2024. 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. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) 
French torchbearer Basile Boli participates in the first stage of the Olympic torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
French torchbearers Colette Cataldo, left, and Basile Boli perform a torch kiss during the first stage of the Olympic torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
French torchbearer Basile Boli participates in the first stage of the Olympic torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
People wait along the way of the first stage of the Olympic torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
French torchbearers Colette Cataldo, left, and Basile Boli perform a torch kiss during the first stage of the Olympic torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
French torchbearer Basile Boli participates in the first stage of the Olympic torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 
Spectators attend the torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) 
Torchbearers participate in the torch relay in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Torchbearers are to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of France’ s southern port city of Marseille, one day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for the welcoming ceremony. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
MARSEILLE, France | Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France’s southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
The torch begins its 11-week journey across the country with about 10,000 bearers passing through more than 450 towns until the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris on July 26.
Former soccer player Basile Boli, who played with the Marseille team in the 1990s, kicked off Thursday’s relay from the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica that overlooks Marseille and the Mediterranean.
“I’m very proud,” Boli said. “You feel like you’re on top of the world, because with an Olympic flame there’s a special fervor. … It’s the symbol of sport!”
Basketball player Tony Parker then took his turn in the relay. On a nearby crowded beach, swimmers and sunbathers cheered the torch bearers as the flame passed.
A fencing champion, a skateboarder, a Michelin-starred chef and a comedian were also chosen to carry the flame.
“Let’s go for a fantastic celebration,” said Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris Olympics organizing committee. “The Games are back in our country. … Let’s share this fantastic moment of celebration with millions of people in the country.”
Participants were scheduled to run all day past landmarks in the city to bring the torch to the roof of the famed Stade Velodrome, home to Marseille’s passionate soccer fans.
Many residents and visitors were strolling along the Old Port, enjoying the sunny weather while waiting for the torch to arrive.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said “it’s fantastic to give that sense of pride to the French people and to show to the whole world what we’re capable to achieve.”
“‘We’re going to give happiness to the whole world,” she added.
One of the torchbearers is Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska, who won two gold medals at the 2020 European Championships and competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
It’s an expression of solidarity with Ukraine as well as a symbolic gesture to mark Europe Day, which falls on May 9 each year. Vysochanska will lead a group of 27 other athletes who represent all European Union member states.
“It’s a way to really celebrate Europe, its values and also to demonstrate our attachment to the European sport model,” Oudéa-Castéra said. Ukraine received a green light last year to start sped-up talks on joining the EU.
“(Ukrainians) face that terrible war of aggression, and we want to really express that we support them the best we can,” she added. “This is unity. This is hope. This is solidarity. And we want their victory.”
Marseille on Wednesday celebrated with great fanfare the flame’s arrival, with more than 230,000 people attending the ceremony in the Old Port, according to the city’s mayor, Benoît Payan.
“It’s just incredible, just magical,” resident Amel Sekko said. “We needed it. We never have events or beautiful things like this in Marseille.”
Mouna Boulhas, another Marseille resident, said, “It’s something you have to experience at least once in your life.”
During the Games, the sailing competition and some soccer matches will be held in Marseille.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
AP journalists Jeffrey Schaeffer, Nicolas Garriga and Oleg Cetinic contributed to this story.