“A welcome moment of harmony”

What does it mean to you to carry the Olympic flame?

“It’s a great source of pride. Olympism represents all the values ​​that I defend. In the period we are going through, I find that this moment of harmony is welcome.”

Are you surprised by the popular fervor that the Torch Relay generates throughout France?

“It’s an incredible event. It’s once in our lives. The last time was a hundred years ago. The closer it gets, the more the craze grows. We are going through such a strong crisis of individualism with a withdrawal into ourselves that is very worrying, linked to fears and agitators who add fuel to the fire. It’s certain that moments when we can come together, go together in the same direction, defend symbols and values, I think people need that.”

How do you explain, despite everything, this Olympic-bashing surrounding Paris 2024?

“We always tend to see the glass as half empty rather than half…