(15 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRES
Katakolo, Greece – 15 April 2024
1. Tourists looking at Belem ship moored in Katakolo port
2. Various of the Belem at port
3. Close of ship’s name on hull
4. Various of the Belem at port
5. Various of the Belem’s captain Aymeric Gilbert walking off ship
6. Helm of the Belem
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Aymeric Gilbert, captain of the Belem:
“The ship is from 1896, the same age as the Olympic Games. So with the Foundation Belem Caisse d’Epargne, we are very proud to carry the flame for the first time by the sea and move the ship by sail. So it’s going to impact the world about the history of France, the link between Greece and France, and for the ecologic way of transport about such an event like Olympic Flame."
8. Various of the Belem at port
9. French flag flying
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Aymeric Gilbert, captain of the Belem:
"16 young people will come on board to carry the flame, and it’s like for them a big honour and an opportunity to participate in this international event. So this kind of mission of course will be unique for us and in the world, I think. It is like a pleasure for us and a preamble for a big adventure for us."
11. Various of the Belem at port
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Jean-Michel Pasquet, tourist from France:
"We had been following since last year everything that was going to be the opening and lighting ceremony of the flame and we thought that it was a unique opportunity for us to see the lighting of the flame in the historic site of Olympia. And when we knew that Belem, in addition, was going to carry the flame from Piraeus to France, we said to ourselves we must do that. And then we learned that Belem was going to arrive today at 16:00 here. And then we said yes, this is the place to be."
13. Wide of the Belem at port
14. Belem’s crew fixing its masts
15. Various of passengers walking on dock
STORYLINE:
A historic French sailing ship that will carry the Olympic Flame from Greece to France ahead of Paris 2024 moored in a Greek port on Monday near the birthplace of the Games.
The Belem, built in 1896 – the same year the first modern Olympics were staged in Athens – made the stop in Katakolo in western Greece close to Ancient Olympia.
It will set sail from Piraeus, the Greek capital’s port, on April 28 with the flame that’s lit Tuesday at the birthplace of the games of antiquity.
Greek authorities are due to hand it over to French Olympic organizers on April 26.
The Belem’s captain said from the port there was significant symbolism in using a fully wind-powered vessel to transport the flame to Marseille in southern France, a port city founded by ancient Greek colonists.
"We are very proud to carry the flame for the first time by the sea," Aymeric Gilbert said.
The three-masted Belem has a maximum sail area of more than 1,200 square meters (1.435 square yards) and is one of the last seaworthy ships of her kind in the world.
Built as a cargo vessel, she was later converted into a luxury yacht.
After passing through several hands, she returned to French ownership and now is a sail training ship, which is also used to show a 21st-century public what life was like on board a 19th-century sailing vessel.
AP video shot by Srdjan Nedeljkovic
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