If there was any doubt whether the French people would embrace the Olympics, it was clearly demonstrated in May when more than one million spectators gathered to watch the Olympic flame light up the country.
The torch, which will soon depart for the West Indies after traveling across France for nearly a month, provided the perfect tranquil start to the Olympics, which kick off with an opening ceremony along the Seine River in Paris on July 26.
The images of the torch's journey from Marseille in the south to Mont Saint-Michel in the northwest, where it arrived aboard the Belem on May 8, have been breathtaking, and so far it has passed without any major incidents.
“There's no denying that Marseille has gained momentum,” said Gregory Muhlach, head of the torch relay for the organizing committee.
A crowd of 200,000 plus a television audience of more than 5.9 million watched rapper Jules light the cauldron in an atmosphere befitting a football match in Marseille.
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That in itself came as a huge relief to the organisers, who then watched the torch set off, attracting large crowds along the way.
An estimated 1.2 million people gathered to watch the relay, with many families lining the route, creating an atmosphere befitting the Tour de France.
But safety remains a concern, with 200 police officers accompanying the march at every stage.
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As authorities feared, the torch attracted many protesters, but for the first month protesters were largely silent.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reported on Tuesday that 81 people had been arrested and 145 actions had been taken with the aim of disrupting the relay, which has been thwarted since May 8.
These include 45 cases by people protesting the Gaza war and 14 by movements claiming to be opposed to the Olympics.
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About 30 drones were also intercepted.
These complaints have been met with the typical shrug.
“What's happening is very French,” said David Lazarus, mayor of Chambly (DVG), in the Oise region northwest of Paris.
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“We criticize a lot in advance but don't really appreciate the magnitude of the popularity of these Olympics.”
Protests or not, the torch continues to travel around the country, even finding time to mingle with movie stars while walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.
The torch will be launched from Brest on Friday evening and will depart for Guadeloupe aboard the Banque Populaire, skippered by Vendée Globe winner Armelle Le Cléar.
“It's clearly a popular success,” said David Roizen, an Olympics expert at the Jean Jaurès Foundation.
“Given the scale of resources available, it is not a surprise. Given the investment for local authorities and the risks for organisers, we should be delighted.”
Berkut/BSP/Gil
