High security and fanfare welcome OIympic flame to port city of Marseille

The 19th century French sailing ship "Belem" on Wednesday sailed into the southern port of Marseille carrying the Olympic flame – after its 12-day, 12,000-kilometre voyage from Greece. Some 6,000 police were deployed for the ship's arrival, with a highly choreographed ceremony marking the first major security test for organisers ahead of the Paris Olympics.

The police presence in Marseille is bigger than it was for Pope Francis’s visit to the city last September.

An elite tactical unit, bomb disposal teams, nautical police and an anti-drone team are in place as well as local police and firefighters.

Before entering Marseille's Vieux-Port at 7pm, the Belem sailing boat will parade along the coast, accompanied by 1,024 boats.

Around 150,000 people are expected to come and watch the entertainment on land and at sea throughout the day, which will culminate in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said there was no "specific threat" to the torch event, but that law enforcement was prepared for different scenarios.

Heightened alert

France is on a heightened Olympics security alert ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which begin on 26 July.

In April, a 16-year-old boy was formally charged after he allegedly said on social media he wanted to make an explosive belt and die a martyr at the Paris Games.

Investigators said the youth had been looking at "jihadist propaganda" online.

Read more on RFI English

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