On Monday, 22 July, the Olympic torch began the final week of its journey, setting the Essonne department ablaze with excitement. Almost 160 torchbearers carried the torch on the road from Étampes to Évry-Courcouronnes, including the champion Daniel Sangouma, a bronze medallist in the Seoul Games, the rugby player Julien Pierre and the artist Richard Orlinski. One of the highlights of the stage was a rugby team relay in the heart of the federation's headquarters in Marcoussis, with fans of the oval ball roaring in delight! At the end of the day, Ladji Doucouré, a former 110 metres hurdles specialist, 2005 world champion in Helsinki and three-time Olympian, lit the cauldron at the celebration venue in Évry-Courcouronnes.
A journey to the heart of Essonne: from Étampes to Évry-Courcouronnes
The Essonne department stands out as a land of promise, boasting first-rate public facilities, renowned cultural events and a vibrant community life. It is also a sporting powerhouse, with over 300,000 licence holders and more than 2,700 clubs. Essonne also draws in visitors with its dynamic urban areas and peaceful natural sites.On Monday, 22 July, the Olympic torch shined a light on all these dimensions of Essonne. It began its journey in Étampes, an old royal city recognised as a "City of Art and History", with 26 listed monuments. Next, it discovered the Étampes leisure island, an outdoor base popular among Île-de-France residents. The following segment took it to Chamarande, home to the largest public garden in Essonne, from the town wash house to the 17th-century château. The Olympic torch then lit up the town hall in Palaiseau before moving on to Massy via Parc de la Tuilerie and its opera house.
Shortly after noon, it set course for Marcoussis, is home to the National Rugby Centre, the headquarters of the French national teams. From this shrine to the oval ball, the Olympic torch marched on to Pierre Camou Stadium. The next stop was Draveil, where it took a scenic river jaunt on the Seine. Back on dry land, it swung by Saint Remigius's Church before zipping down Avenue Henri Barbusse, cutting through Vigneux-sur-Seine and visiting Montgeron. In Dourdan, the torch ventured into the 13th-century castle.
The stage reached its terminus in Évry-Courcouronnes, which has earned accolades for its remarkable contemporary architecture. It blazed past the Genopole incubator and across Place des Droits de l'Homme before making its grand entrance to Robert Bobin Stadium, the sixth-largest venue in Île-de-France, where the celebration venue had been set up.
A celebration fit for a rugby king
The Olympic torch's visit to Marcoussis was bound to feature a nod to rugby. The heart of the National Rugby Centre —home to both the French Rugby Federation and the national team's training ground— played host to a team relay organised by the Federation itself. Jean-Charles Mascetti, a stalwart of the Île-de-France Regional League, led the charge. His presence was a tribute to the thousands of volunteers who keep the sport thriving across France.
At his side were several women involved in the sport: the referee Doriane Domenjo, the coach Anne Dessagne, the rugby sevens player Lina Guerin and the former international star Jessy Trémoulière. Frédéric Pomarel, the women's national coach, and Julien Pierre, a former French international who now tackles environmental issues, also joined in. Henri Estirac, the national team's former kit man, and Sébastien Lapasset, a sports technical adviser, also took their turn. The line-up also featured Daniel Sangouma, a bronze medallist in Seoul 1988 who broke the 4 × 100 metres relay world record in 1990.
160 torchbearers embody the ardent spirit of the torch
The Olympic spirit burned bright in Essonne as scores of torchbearers took turns carrying the Olympic torch through the department. Among them was the freestyle basketball world champion Brice "Brisco" Coyere, who shares his passion with over 150,000 followers on social media. The honour of the final leg fell to Ladji Doucouré. The hurdler, who thrilled French fans in the 110 m event, claimed the world championship in 2005 and competed in three Olympic Games: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. He had the privilege of igniting the cauldron in front of a huge crowd.
Earlier in the day, the Olympic torch had been carried by the television presenter Ophélie Meunier, the renowned sculptor Richard Orlinski —famous for his colourful creations— and Nathalie Smirnov, Director General of the French Red Cross. The stage also showcased the sporting talent that underpins local clubs. Aurélie Bacelon, a dedicated baseball player, coach and club secretary, took her turn alongside the swimmers Marie-Océane Colombani and Benjamin Yonnet, the adapted tennis specialist Maelys Feve, the footballer Suat Yildiz and Rémy Beauvais, chairman of the Amboise handball club. The crowd was thrilled to see the black belt judoka Maxence Castagnol and the two-time French traditional kung fu champion Zhexi Christophe among the torchbearers!
The Olympic torch will continue its fantastic trek in the Yvelines department tomorrow, visiting places such as Rambouillet, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Versailles. This incredible evening in a landscape straight out of a postcard will provide a nice appetiser with four days to go until the start of the Olympic Games.
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