Olympic Torch Commences Paris Journey

The Olympic Torch began its journey in the French capital on Sunday, following the military parade celebrating France's national day, Bastille Day. Upon the military parade's final scene, the Olympic Torch appeared in the hand of knight Thibaut Valette, gold medal winner in Rio in 2016, who in turn handed the Torch over to a group of young people in front of the presidential podium, who took it to the Champs-Elysees Avenue, where they handed it over to former French football star Thierry Henry. The Torch will cut through the capital for approximately 12 hours, all the way until the Paris City Hall, where it will spend the night before resuming its Parisian journey, which will end on Monday evening in the Place de la Republique square, where a free concert will be taking place. In a two-days time, the Torch will have traveled around 60 km, carried by about 540 people, and under the supervision of 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers, among 18,000 security forces mobilized for the event. Source: Qatar New s Agency