Discovering the Aude: with its medieval towns, culinary specialities and love of rugby, the Torch was duty bound to pay a visit
This Thursday, the Olympic Torch made a veritable leap back in time to explore the unique medieval heritage of the Aude. On the day, almost 110 Olympic Torchbearers took turns to transport the Olympic Flame from the Fortress in Peyrepertuse to Carcassonne, providing an opportunity to discover the wealth of heritage in these towns brimming with history.
Dimitri Pavadé, one of the Olympic Torch Relay captains, was present in Carcassonne and Olivia Ruiz, one of France’s most popular singers, lit the Olympic Cauldron on the celebration site.
The day got off to a magnificent start with a panoramic view of the Pyrenees and the Aude. The Olympic Torch is now accustomed to hitting the heights and today it visited Peyrepertuse Castle, perched on a rocky ridge at an altitude of almost 800 metres.
Transported by a torchbearer on a zip line, the Olympic Torch then soared out high above the ground, for guaranteed thrills!
On returning to terra firma, the relay continued to celebrate the history and diversity of the Aude department by making its way through the narrow streets of Narbonne, to the Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse, as well as to the basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Marceille in Limoux.
After visiting Castelnaudary, the historical capital of the cassoulet dish, the Olympic Torch Relay then headed to Gruissan. The day came to a close in Carcassonne, with its two UNESCO world heritage listed sites, namely the medieval city and the Canal du Midi waterway.
A collective relay sails out of Gruissan
The coast at Gruissan played host to a sail-powered collective relay, as a nod to the seaside resort’s 50th anniversary. It is on these shores that the biggest event in board sports is held every year: the Défi Wind challenge. For this collective relay, 23 movers and shakers in sailing, from champions to volunteers, from club officials to coaches or referees accompanied Camille Lecointre, a two times medallist at the Tokyo and Rio Games who, alongside his team-mate Jérémie Mion, will be flying France’s colours in the 470 class at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. With its 1,100 sailing clubs totalling 270,000 members, this discipline is developing thanks to the voluntary and professional commitment of enthusiasts from all walks of life.
A region proud of its sportspeople
In the land of rugby, Gérard Bertrand, a 3rd row forward and captain of Racing club Narbonnais and then Stade Français, proudly represented the region’s official sport. Among the sportswomen and sportsmen who have left their mark on the history of local sport were former jujitsu champion Estelle Gaspard, three times French champion Noah Dudon, adapted sport French cross-country champion Lukas Rolandeu and former race-walking champion Martine Navarro.
The captain of the Olympic Torch Relay and Paralympic long jump silver medallist Dimitri Pavadé was the penultimate torchbearer and passed on the Olympic Flame to Olivia Ruiz who then lit the Olympic Cauldron at the celebration site.
A Cultural Olympiad celebrates the region’s artists
At the end of the day, a sporty cultural Olympiad was organised in the fortress of Carcassonne in partnership with the French national centre for monuments.
TheRetouramonttroop accompanied the Olympic Torch on its passage through the monument. Almost like tightrope walkers, the dancers flew along on cables at great heights, mingling their cheers with those of the spectators present to welcome the last of the torchbearers.
Tomorrow, the Olympic Torch will head to Haute-Garonne, a vast territory brimming with natural sites. It will start its route in Revel, before visiting Villemur-sur-Tarn, Muret and Rieux- Volvestre. The day will continue in Colomiers as well as Bagnères-de-Luchon and then finish in Toulouse.