Olympic Flame: Thousands Welcome It in Marseille - Watch the Impressive Ceremony Live

The Olympic flame arrived at the old port of Marseille today, under tight security measures, 79 days before the start of the Paris Games.

Thousands of people are there to welcome it, with the setting impressive.

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The flame was lit in Ancient Olympia 11 days earlier, and the sailboat carrying it was awaited by 1,024 boats.

Six thousand police officers on foot

Around 6,000 police officers have been deployed to the area, as Florent Manaudou, the 2012 French Olympic champion in the men's 50m freestyle, was expected to carry the flame ashore in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron.

In addition, trained dogs from the French police and snipers from the elite French forces have been deployed. "This is an unprecedented level of security," said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. "Life goes on in Marseille, but under high-security conditions," he added.

"We designed this event as a ceremony, the fifth of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, beyond the opening and closing ceremonies," said Paris 2024 Executive Director Thierry Reboul, who is in charge of the ceremonies.

"Marseille is the ideal place to create memories, it was the obvious choice," said Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, about Marseille.

A free rap concert will follow on a floating stage in front of 45,000 spectators. "It's a huge honour, and I think it's great exposure for the city," retired boat owner Henri Zerenet told Reuters.