The flame will return to Cannes on 18 June as part of its journey across France before the Games in Paris

A prestigious moment in store: on 21 May, the Olympic flame will be carried by French paralympic athlete Arnaud Assoumani as he climbs the steps of the Cannes Film Festival, the organisers announced on Monday 13 May. Festival officials said in a statement that ‘Paris 2024, in collaboration with Cannes town hall, will present the flame on the festival’s red carpet’. The festival, which opens on Tuesday and closes on 25 May, will host this special event.

Then, on 18 June, the Olympic flame will return to Cannes as part of its tour of France ahead of the Games in Paris.

May 21 will also see the evening screening of the documentary ‘Olympiques! La France des Jeux’ by Mickaël Gamrasni. According to festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux, this documentary retraces ‘a century of participation in the Olympic Games, which have left an indelible mark on our collective memory’. Olympic and Paralympic champions such as David Douillet, Guy Drut, Jean Galfione, Céline Gerny, Laura Flessel, Laure Manaudou and Cédric Nankin will be present on the Croisette.