Olympique de Marseille

The Olympic flame reached Marseille, just outside the Old Port, amid tight security on Wednesday, 79 days before the Paris 2024 Games Opening Ceremony.

"Marseille is the ideal spot to create memories."

Florent Manaudou, France's 2012 Olympic men's 50 metres freestyle swimming champion, will light the cauldron shortly after 1730 GMT in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron.

The Olympic torch will finally enter France when it reaches the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday. And it's already been quite a journey.

After being lit by the sun's rays on April 16 in Ancient Olympia, the torch was carried around Greece before leaving Athens aboard a three-mast ship named Belem, headed for Marseille.

The Europa League game between Marseille and Galatasaray was interrupted for about 10 minutes after rival fans threw flares and firecrackers at each other at Stade Velodrome on Sept. 30. 

The match finished 0-0 but pockets of rival fans were fighting inside the stadium more than 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Olympiakos was eliminated from the Champions League when it slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Olympique de Marseille in Group C on Tuesday, with the two clubs left fighting for a Europa League spot.