500 Days before the Olympic Games | 533 before the Paralympic Games
Today with 500/533 days to go before the Olympic and Paralympic Games the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, French embassies and the overseas French territories bearing the ‘Terre de Jeux 2024’ label invited the world to take part in a 24-hour relay which celebrates the power of sport.
The relay passed through all five continents engaging the general public and figures from the world of sport in hour long sporting activities each starting at 9 a.m. local time.
Olympic boxing champion Kelly Harrington kicked off the Irish leg of the relay collecting the baton from the French embassy in Dublin. She was then joined by Vincent Guerend the French ambassador and students from the Trinity Athletics Club before being transported by skateboard along the River Liffey.
The final run of the relay saw the baton making its way through Sean Moore Park before Paralympic Champion Ellen Keane took it to its final destination in Ireland, Poolbeg Lighthouse.
The Baton is to be passed on to embassies and territories in the next time zone through social media over the course of the day. This extraordinary global event showcases sport’s unique ability to bring people together through the energy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024 said: “In just over 500 days’ time, Paris and France will welcome the world and this relay will enable the whole world to celebrate sport for 24 hours non-stop! We are grateful to all the territories and embassies involved in this second edition of the relay, which is being organised as part of the Terre de Jeux 2024 programme. Crossing 116 countries and overseas territories and with 20,000 participants, the relay will be even bigger than before. It highlights the role of sport, which gives us the opportunity to work together, to share experiences and to push through our own limits, together. On 14 March, this message will be broadcast all over the world thanks to the relay and its ambassadors!”
