The arrival of the Olympic Flame in Marseille aboard the Belem on May 8, 2024 will mark the start of the Games celebrations on French territory. The two Sponsors of the Torch Relay, Coca-Cola, Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne, are fully committed to punctuating the journey with memorable moments. This is how Paris 2024 and Caisse d'Epargne, the main sponsor of the three-masted ship, are today unveiling the crew of the Belem which will accompany the Flame from the port of Piraeus in Greece to the Phocaean city. This historic crossing of the Mediterranean will follow the handover ceremony of the Flame in Athens and will be an opportunity to illustrate the strong links between Greece and France.
14 young Scouts will escort the Olympic Flame from the port of Piraeus to Marseille.
Fourteen young people aged 16 to 24 were selected by the regional Savings Banks to join the professional crew of the Belem and accompany the Olympic Flame during its crossing of the Mediterranean. They will join the 16 members of the professional crew of the ship led by Aymeric Gibet, captain of the Belem since 2016. A strong initiative reflecting the commitment of Paris 2024 and Caisse d'Epargne in terms of inclusion and promotion of youth.
To constitute this crew, Caisse d'Epargne conducted an integration program throughout 2023 with the Belem Caisse d'Epargne Foundation. On this occasion, 300 young members of associative structures supporting social and professional integration in mainland France and overseas were able to embark on the Belem for a few days to take part in navigation courses. A unique opportunity to discover life as a crew, to disconnect from your daily life, and to experience a timeless collective adventure. At the end of these internships, 14 young people were selected to become ambassadors for their regional mutual, based on criteria of learning, listening and living together skills.
14 young people with varied life paths and interests:
Among these 14 young people, some experienced a first professional awareness during the internships on board the Belem which gave them the first directions:
- Lucas 17 years old, (Caisse d’Epargne (CE) Loire-Centre): student at the School of 2rd Chance d'Orléans (a system which supports young people who have dropped out of school and which gives them access to diploma or qualification training), he started work-study training following his internship at Belem,
- Eléonor, 20 years old, (CE Bretagne, Pays de la Loire): intern at the School of 2rd Chance,
- Noémie, 18 years old, (CE Burgundy-Franche-Comté): former trainee aboard the Belem dedicated to others within her specialized establishment,
- Yassine, 19 years old, (CE-CEPAC) : he discovered a real passion during this internship which showed him that it was important to believe in his dreams,
- Nathan, 19 years old, (CE Grand Est Europe): voluntary and diligent in everything he does, motivated by mutual aid and sharing this experience.
Some of them already had a certain attraction to professions linked to the sea and navigation:
- Shawn, 17 years old, (CE Auvergne, Limousin): student in professional baccalaureate and attracted by the world of navigation,
- Nathan, 18 years old, (CE Normandy): passionate about the naval world and who wishes to join the French Navy,
- Chloé, 19 years old, (CE Languedoc-Roussillon): member of the “The sea is yours” program, he is following a program to train as a skipper,
- Hugo, 21 years old, (CE Île-de-France): passionate about maritime life, with the thirst to improve his navigation skills,
- Zabih, 25 years old, (CE Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes): wishes to train to become a naval electrician.
Other young people in the crew with varied interests are already engaged in professional training:
- Thomas, 20 years old, (CE Rhône-Alpes) : sporty and oriented towards others, who joined the volunteer firefighters,
- Clara, 23 years old, (CE Hauts-de-France) : joined a civic service mission to make a new professional start,
- Manon, 24 years old, (CE Côte d’Azur) : trained with the Compagnons du Devoir,
- Jana, 24 years old, (CE Midi-Pyrénées) : decided to train in eco-construction professions.
A unique journey to transmit to young people the values of commitment, solidarity and living together in a unique environment.
On board, the professional crew will pass on the navigation secrets of the oldest three-masted ship in Europe to young people. They will learn to hoist the sails, to pull in the lines, to hold the helm, to stay on course. Each crew member will actively participate in navigation and daily life on the ship, cooking, cleaning, etc. This crossing will be an exceptional odyssey which will allow young people to plan their career paths and believe in their dreams.
Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024:
“The crossing of the Mediterranean on the Belem will be a historic moment of the Paris 2024 Games. We thank Caisse d'Epargne, one of the Sponsors of the Torch Relay, for allowing us to create this highlight aboard the one of the oldest French ships and to associate it with a meaningful initiative with youth at the heart of the project. This crossing will be an opportunity to highlight these 14 young people who will have the pride of accompanying the Flame at sea and bringing the Games to France! We wish them to enjoy this unique human adventure immersed in the crew, with their sights set on a magnificent party upon their arrival in Marseille. It’s the adventure of a lifetime!”
Jacques-Olivier Hurbal, Caisse d’Epargne Development Director:
“Caisse d'Epargne is delighted to be one of the main players in the Prologue of the Paris 2024 Torch Relay and to bring the magic of the Games to France with the Trois-Mâts Belem of which it is a patron. For this incredible trip, 14 young people from the Caisses d'Epargne territories will have the privilege of bringing the Flame back to Marseille. These Young Scouts, ambassadors of their region, will symbolize the brand's commitment to Youth and inclusion. »
