Bastille Day Military Parade Combined with Olympic Torch Relay Takes Place in France

This year, the traditional Bastille Day military parade, which is celebrated in France on 14 July, was combined with the Olympic torch relay before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will begin in Paris on 26 July.

This was reported by French President Emmanuel Macron and the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the Republic on Platform X.

Macron posted a video of the so-called French Patrol aircraft flying overhead, leaving traces in the colours of the French national flag.

"French people, happy national holiday!" he greeted his fellow citizens.

This year, Macron hosted the parade on the Avenue de Foch, rather than the traditional Champs Elysees, as the city prepares to host the Olympic Games.

This year's air show consisted of two parts: first, 22 helicopters and 6 light aircraft flew overhead, followed by another 37 aircraft. The President inspected the troops, and then 4,000 civilians marched in front of the equestrian parade.

The highlight of the parade was a rider carrying a torch. These photos were released by the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

Colonel Thibaut Vallette, a gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, was chosen to carry the torch to the presidential podium.

The Olympic torch in front of the official rostrum, where President Macron stood, was later passed to young athletes. Soldiers wearing green, yellow, red, blue and black jackets recreated the Olympic flag, while the Marseillaise was played.

The Olympic torch will cross the streets of the French capital for 48 hours.

The day before the Olympics, the memory of the fallen Ukrainian athletes was honoured in Paris.

As The Gaze previously reported, 140 athletes will represent Ukraine at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in 26 disciplines, including debuts in breaking and climbing.