Nina Métayer, best pastry chef in the world and torchbearer
Clement Dorval/Ville de Paris
They are artists, athletes, firefighters, members of an association… And they all share one common point: this summer, they will pass the Olympic and Paralympic flame through the streets of the capital. We introduce you to these Parisians with extraordinary destinies.
The torchbearers of the Olympic flame
Diaby Diako. World champion in freestyle roller skating, Diaby is a prodigy on wheels. When he’s not winning new titles, he shares his passion with the members of the Paris Skate Culture club (18th arrondissement).
Armel Agbobli. Armel is a woman dedicated to supporting other women. Daily, she coordinates the Geneviève de Gaulle-Anthonioz women’s shelter with the La Mie de Pain association. Her goal? To strive to provide women in extreme poverty with shelter and opportunities within French society.
Micheline Abergel. Born in Egypt, Micheline arrived in France in 1957, at the age of 10. Since then, she has created a collective and a festival called Toi Femmes, aimed at raising awareness about the various forms of violence faced by women.
Luca Platania Parisi. A para fencer at the Club de la Tour d’Auvergne (9th arrondissement), Luca is a French champion and ranked 4th internationally. Every day, he endeavors to introduce his sport to as many people as possible.
Minetou Ndiaye. A senior executive, Minetou has been working for several years to create a more open and just society. Eight years ago, she founded Énergie Femmes, an association that encourages women to embrace their ambitions.
Arthur Seurin. Arthur is a business school student like any other… well, almost. In June 2023, he was decorated by the Prefect of Paris for an act of bravery after rescuing his neighbor from her burning apartment.
Claudine Vigouroux. A school activity leader in the 13th arrondissement, Claudine has been dedicated to sports for over forty years. Her favorite discipline? Double Dutch, a skillful mix of hip-hop and jump rope. Once a high-level competitor, she now heads a club with more than 60 members.
Arthur Le Comte du Colombier. Working in the assistance sector, Arthur, who is visually impaired, is also a runner with the JAM club and never shies away from a challenge.
Tharshan Selvarajah. Arriving in France in 2006, Tharshan initially worked in the restaurant industry before focusing on baking in 2010 and opening his own bakery at 44 rue des Pyrénées (20th arrondissement). A successful choice, as he won the Best Baguette in Paris Award in 2023!
Hélène Cart-Grandjean. From the Ministry of Health to the management of the European Hospital Georges-Pompidou and supporting clinical research, Hélène’s career has brought her into close contact with healthcare teams and their commitment to patients. It is for them that this mountain and endurance enthusiast will carry the Olympic flame.
Eva David. A para-athlete, Eva plays wheelchair basketball and tennis. She aims to qualify for the French wheelchair basketball team for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Daily, she advocates for better inclusion of people with disabilities in sports and society.
Vivien Boyi-Banga. Based in the north of the capital, Vivien is an entrepreneur who founded the association Les Talents du 18 (18th arrondissement). This innovative concept promotes sports by highlighting the achievements of athletes from northern Paris to the public and providing them with financial support to continue competing at the international level.
Shanga Itaka. Shanga is an administrator at the sports association Sensations Inclusives (19th arrondissement), which works to improve access to sports and develop healthy sports for people with disabilities.
Matteo Lüthi. “Living with a disability, Matteo is a young high-level athlete who practices para fencing. His wish? To promote sports for everyone, regardless of their condition.
Lucia Teixeira. Arriving in Paris at the age of 17 to escape fascism in Portugal, this building caretaker is an iconic figure on Rue de Charonne. She sponsored a homeless person who later became a caretaker at the RIVP (Régie Immobilière de la Ville de Paris).
Rayane Hechmi. Housed in a foster home, Rayane is a piano prodigy. At 16, he is a student at the conservatory of the 12th arrondissement and gained recognition by winning the final of ‘France’s Got Talent.’ Following this success, he had the chance to perform at the Hôtel de Ville during the Mayor’s New Year greetings in 2023.
Hawa Sangaré. Through her brand, Hawa Sangaré trains vulnerable women in sewing professions. Through her foundation H.A.W.A, she combats clothing waste by repurposing fabrics and unsold items into new products.
Creator of her brand, Hawa Sangaré will be one of the torchbearer.
Joséphine Brueder/Ville de Paris
Aroquia Duchet. President of the Citroën-Boucicaut neighborhood council (15th arrondissement) for three years, Aroquia has been an engaged citizen within the City of Paris for many years. She is also a dedicated volunteer, involved in Parisian events such as Bastille Day, the Tropical Carnival, and Nuit Blanche.
Claudine Laslaz. Working as a nurse anesthetist at AP-HP, Claudine participates in the annual virtual challenge initiated by CHU Nord. She is committed to encouraging her team and hospital staff to engage in sports and imparts the benefits and energy of sports to her patients.
Harouna Sow. After a journey of exile, Harouna found refuge in France and later became the head chef of the Waalo restaurant (2nd arrondissement). Simultaneously, he is a trainer at Refugee Food, an association that facilitates the integration of refugees through the restaurant industry.
Jean-Claude Ménager. A football player since the age of 17, Jean-Claude contributed to the development of the sports club L’Espérance Parisienne as a coach and referee. He is highly involved in senior clubs in the 18th arrondissement, participating in gymnastics, dance, theater, and even belonging to a choir.
Lassana Bathily. An agent of the City of Paris, he is the hero of the Hyper Cacher hostage crisis at Porte de Vincennes in January 2015.
Ludovic Franceschet. A street cleaner for the City of Paris, Ludovic is known on social media for raising awareness among his followers about keeping the city clean.
Amira Al-Sharif. An Arab Yemeni visual artist, Amira aims to convey to everyone a message of peace and inclusivity.
Jean Jouzel. A climatologist, he co-published in 1987 with Claude Lorius the first study formally establishing the link between CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and global warming. He served as vice-chair of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) from 2002 to 2015 and is a member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
Sarah Koutouan. An athletics champion, Sarah spoke out about gender-based and sexual violence in sports following the release of the documentary ‘Suite’ by Emma Oudiou, on gender-based violence in athletics. This advocacy led her to launch her association: We Run Safe.
Nina Métayer. In 2023, she was named the best pastry chef in the world, becoming the first woman to earn this title.
Arthur Raynaud. A drag queen known as Minima Gesté, Arthur actively advocates for LGBTQI+ sports associations and the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Hamida Aman. This Afghan journalist, based in Paris, is the founder of Radio Begum, the first radio station run by Afghan women.
Timothé Bernardeau. Timothé is a Paris firefighter and a corporal with disabilities (PSH). Chief Warrant Officer Rémi Lemaire will accompany him.
Lou Claeyssen. Lou is the co-founder and member of the association TRANSpire, which promotes inclusivity in sports, particularly for transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals.
Arthur Dénouveaux. Arthur is the president of the association Life for Paris, created in response to the attacks that occurred on November 13, 2015, in Paris and Saint-Denis.
Philippe Duperron. Philippe is the president of the association 13onze15 – Fraternity and Truth, created following the attacks on November 13, 2015, in Paris and Saint-Denis.
Rana Gorgani. This Franco-Iranian dancer embodies women’s freedom (particularly Iranian women) through the beauty of her art: Sufi dance.
Yurik Mamedov. A professional Yazidi boxer, Yurik raises awareness about the atrocities committed by Daesh against his minority in the summer of 2014.
Rosa Mota. A Portuguese athlete, Rosa is an Olympic marathon medalist at the 1988 Seoul Games.
Christophe Thin. Highly engaged with the underprivileged, Christophe participated in creating a food distribution center during the lockdown and, since November 2020, has established fraternal breakfasts on the forecourt of Notre-Dame-des-Champs (6th arrondissement). In December 2023, he launched the first community garden in the 6th arrondissement at Square Ozanam on Boulevard du Montparnasse.
Aimel Chaïbi. A dedicated Parisian volunteer, Aimel has been honored with the National Order of Merit. She now works at the headquarters of Secours Populaire (sports access mission) and is also a volunteer coordinator at the Handisport Open Paris.
Aya Cissoko. A French boxing and world champion in French boxing in 1999 and 2003, and in English boxing in 2006, Aya is a former accomplished athlete who now works to promote women’s sports in Paris.
François Denis. President of the Office du Mouvement Sportif 14 (14th arrondissement), François has been organizing the 10 km of the 14th arrondissement for seventeen years.
Perrine Rosenzweig. Perrine is the director of Esprit-Savoir-Sport-Équité (19th arrondissement), an association that promotes the Danube-Solidarité neighborhood (19th arrondissement) through unifying activities for young and old.
Harouna Sow, Chef of Waalo Restaurant and torchbearer
Clément Dorval/ Ville de Paris
Paralympic Flame Bearers
Michael Desplanques. PE teacher, Michael is the UNSS coordinator for the RAID section at Montgolfier College (Central Paris).
Raymond Pellé. A legend of French cycling, Raymond is also the former president of the Vélo-Club des Vétérans Parisiens.
Marie Robert. A Parisian citizen, Marie is deeply involved in senior clubs and music groups.
Fatoumata Touré. Fatoumata volunteers for two associations: Aida, which helps children with cancer, and Une Idée dans la Tête, a popular education association.
Olympic Flame Bearers – Parisian Youth Individual Relay
Néva Béraud-Peigné. President of the association Moove Toi / Social and Solidarity Economy.
Néva, 23, is the founder and president of the association Moove Toi. She is a laureate of Talents 2024 (4th edition 2022-2023).
Noémie Marchyllie. Youth of Paris – Co-founder and co-director of the association Kabubu / Social and professional inclusion of exiled people through the power of sports.
Laureate of the 1st edition of Talents 2024 (2017-2018), Noémie Marchyllie, 33, is co-founder and co-director of the association Kabubu. Created in January 2018, Kabubu aims to promote social and professional inclusion of exiled people through the unifying values of sport.
Alix Capocci. Founder of Keyla Sportswear / Sports bra brand. Alix Capocci, a 23-year-old Parisian, is a young entrepreneur and laureate of Talents 2024 (4th edition 2022-2023).
Based on her personal experiences, she created the first sports bra brand designed for women with large busts (sizes D and up) and produced locally (mainly in France or Europe). This project fully aligns with the values of Olympism by allowing all women to practice sports freely.
Camille Scali. Volunteer at the association Repairs 75 and representative of the City of Paris on the Board of Directors of the CIDJ / Child Protection.
Camille is an active member of the association Repairs! 75, which assists those in child protection in Paris. Created by young people recently out of Child Welfare, Repairs! 75 is a resource center to help young people without family support develop their agency.
Kajali Susso. Athlete and engaged citizen / Solidarity and memorial projects.
Resident of Goutte d’Or, Kajali leads numerous civic projects: he organized two memorial trips to Auschwitz (2022 and 2023) and is preparing another to Dachau in 2024. A mathematics student, he is also very athletic and a member of a boxing club. He volunteers to organize fitness workshops for neighborhood youth.
David Khamsing. Entrepreneur strongly engaged in the associative activities of the 13th arrondissement.
Romain Pellat. Laureate of Start in ESS in 2021 (MIE) and the 4th edition of Talents 2024 (DGJOP/DJS) with the project Binko / Ecological struggle: waste management.
Romain works to combat waste recycling errors in stadiums, stations, and public spaces, reducing waste size by up to 12 times! He developed a patentable camera trash can recognizing over 2.6 million different wastes, eliminating sorting errors, and cutting recycling costs by six.
Soukaïna Guendouz. Active at the Espace Paris Jeunes Taos Amrouche / Fight against violence against women.
Soukaïna is very active at the Espace Paris Jeunes Taos Amrouche, where she produces reports and audiovisual creations, particularly concerning violence against women.
Noémie Varon. Laureate of the 3rd edition of Talents 2024 (DGJOP/DJS) with the project Réal Des Mêmes / Inclusion project.
Noémie designed a project for creating a series (animation and stop motion) broadcast on social networks and in classrooms at all levels to promote a more inclusive society starting from school.
Pierre Noro. Laureate of the 1st edition of Talents 2024 (DGJOP/DJS) with the project BubbleBox / Solidarity project and sustainable economy.
Pierre’s project BubbleBox enables migrants, refugees, and homeless individuals to access showers and washing machines through a mobile, self-sufficient hygiene module. He works on the impact of technologies to contribute to more equitable digital ecosystems and sustainable economies.
Map of the flame’s Parisian travel.
Ville de Paris
Olympic Flame Bearers – Collective Relay of City of Paris Agents
The collective relays are composed of several relay runners and a captain. This function honors their collective contribution to the city’s prestige: Miloud Abdelmalek, Margaret Babara Touré, Mehdi Boufadene, François-Régis Bréauté, Maguy Edouard Caron, Stéphanie Casal, Mireille Bach Lien Choffrut, Emilie Dabilbert, Kevin Delacourt, Odile Dupuy, Lila Durix, Gaëlle Gabriel, Valentin Grisvard, Mathieu Gustave, Ariane Hervy, Lucie Le Gall, Saïd Manseri, Mehdi Mortera, Dang Thien Pham, Francine Rousseau, Adeline Tamborini, Marie-Noëlle Tchinda, Naomi Waldren, Mark Traoré
Key Figures:
39 is the number of Parisian personalities who will carry the Olympic flame. There will be 4 carrying the Paralympic flame.
24 employees of the City of Paris will carry the Olympic flame in groups.
Contact:
Press service – press.mediacentre@paris.fr
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