The flame was first carried by torchbearer and French soccer legend Thierry Henry
The 2024 Olympic torch made a stylish arrival in Paris this weekend.
Less than two weeks from when the Games are set to begin, the Olympic relay has officially kicked off in the French capital. Before the flame started its epic journey through the City of Light on Sunday, which coincided with Bastille Day, the torch was propped on a pedestal on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, housed in a custom-made Louis Vuitton trunk, The New York Times reported. Back in March, it was announced that the French maison’s parent company, LVMH, would be crafting the bespoke trunks used to store the torches. In addition, LVMH-owned jewellery house Chaumet is designing the medals.
The trunk itself was made by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and sports Louis Vuitton’s signature checkboard canvas. The wardrobe-like suitcase is kitted out with chrome-plated steel and lined with matte black leather. Louis Vuitton has previously created trunks for major sporting events including the World Cup, NBA Championship, and the F1 Grand Prix de Monaco. The brand is also in charge of designing the custom-made medal trays that this year’s gold, silver, and bronze medal winners will be presented with.
“Protecting the symbol of Paris 2024—the torches—and the dreams of the greatest athletes—the medals—required the expertise of exceptional craftsmen,” Antoine Arnault, head of image and environment at LVMH and the eldest son of CEO Bernard Arnault, said in a statement. “It is a great source of pride today to unveil these original creations, which I’m sure will remain engraved in the history of the Group.”
Soccer legend and the coach of the male French Olympic team, Thierry Henry, was the first torchbearer to carry the flame through the streets of Paris where over 5.5 million spectators gathered to watch the torch pass by. Henry ran the flame over to French Judo star Romane Dicko, who will also be competing at the 2024 summer games. BTS member Jin carried the torch later in the evening in front of the Louvre. The flame will remain in Paris until Tuesday, carried by 540 people in front of the city’s most famous landmarks. It will return for the opening ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, 26 July 2024.
With 12 days to go until the Games, the capital is in the final stage of preparations, including cracking down on illegal street vendors before spectators descend upon the city. If you want to add a trip to this year’s Olympics to your summer vacation festivities, there are still rentals available at the very last minute.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Stephane de Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images
