Arnaud Dourlens, an employee at the French pharmaceutical and healthcare firm Sanofi, is overwhelmed with honor and excitement after being selected as an Olympic torch bearer for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

Sanofi, a major sponsor of the games, provided its employees with an opportunity to apply for this prestigious role. For Dourlens, the chance to be a torch bearer is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he could not miss.

"There was a lot of communication in the company and they sent a short email saying you could apply to be a torch bearer, and at that time it was very clear for me, it was a unique opportunity. So I replied, and sent a letter to explain why I'm ready to do so. By chance, I'm here today," said Dourlens.

The Olympic flame, which symbolizes unity and the core values of the Olympic Games, holds great significance for Dourlens.

"For me being a torch bearer is a unique opportunity to celebrate the Olympic Games. Definitely there are a lot of values behind Olympic Games that resonate for me, around excellence, around also being able to have a high performance. And also it's something around the world, you know, a kind of union, a time of peace, a time of being together. You can compete and be friends and in this world I think it means a lot," said Dourlens.

The Paris 2024 Olympic flame arrived in the French port city of Marseille on the historic French ship, the Belem, on Wednesday, and Dourlens and his family joined over 230,000 spectators, eagerly awaiting the arrival.

The following morning, in a historic neighborhood of Marseille, Dourlens's family, along with numerous others, excitedly anticipated the torch's journey through the city.

"We are very surprised and excited. It's a beautiful day, and we didn't expect all this to happen. It's very extraordinary," said Lucy Dourlens, Dourlens's wife.

When the moment arrived, Dourlens received the flame from the previous torch bearer and embarked on his own leg of the relay. Jogging approximately 200 meters, he greeted the cheering crowd along the route, carrying the symbolic flame proudly.

All across France, enthusiastic crowds have been gathering, waiting hours for a fleeting glimpse of the torch.

In total 10,000 torch bearers will help transport the flame across France and its territories before reaching France's capital Paris on July 26 for the opening of the games.

SHOTLIST:

Marseille, France - May 9, 2024
1. Various of Arnaud Dourlens, torch bearer of flame for Olympic Games Paris 2024, posing for photos; cameraman, onlookers;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Arnaud Dourlens, Olympic flame torch bearer (starting with shot 1):
"There was a lot of communication in the company and they sent a short email saying you could apply to be a torch bearer, and at that time it was very clear for me, it was a unique opportunity. So I replied, and sent a letter to explain why I'm ready to do so. By chance, I'm here today.";
3. Onlookers, Dourlens posing with residents;
4. Cameraman, Dourlens posing with torch;
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Arnaud Dourlens, Olympic flame torch bearer (starting with shot 4/partially overlaid with shot 6):
"For me being a torch bearer is a unique opportunity to celebrate the Olympic Games. Definitely there are a lot of values behind Olympic Games that resonate for me, around excellence, around also being able to have a high performance. And also it's something around the world, you know, a kind of union, a time of peace, a time of being together. You can compete and be friends and in this world I think it means a lot.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
6. Dourlens posing with torch;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
7. Various of Dourlens' family, crowds watching Dourlens coming out from vehicle, taking photo of Dourlens;
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Lucy Dourlens, Dourlens's wife:
"We are very surprised and excited. It's a beautiful day, and we didn't expect all this to happen. It's very extraordinary.";
9. Various of crowds, Dourlens running with Olympic flame; kid applauding.

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