The Olympic torch relay remains in the Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes region. After Vichy the day before, it is the turn of the Loire department and the city of Saint-Étienne to be highlighted during the 38th stage this Saturday, June 22.
A stage, rich in eight fragments with 155 carriers, which begins at 9 a.m. in Roanne with the collective relay dedicated to adapted sport. Led by captain Nicolas Virapin, the first French athlete with Down syndrome to have been crowned world athletics champion in 2018 in 60 m, 200 m, length and triathlon, the relay will be held on the basketball court of the Halle Vacheresse sports complex.
Medieval cities in the spotlight
The flame will soar through the streets of the city, passing Place Victor-Hugo and Saint-Étienne Church before reaching the banks of the Loire at 10:10 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., Charlieu offers a twenty-minute visit between the Michel-Servet college and the Benedictine abbey.
Montbrison, a medieval city, meets at 12 p.m. at the Sainte-Eugénie chapel until the point of arrival 40 minutes later at the Allard garden. Feurs takes over at 1:05 p.m. from his racecourse for an arrival at the Place du 11-Novembre at 1:30 p.m.
Another medieval city, Saint-Chamond welcomes its world at 3:20 p.m. to the Arena Saint-Étienne Métropole, the den of the city’s basketball players who play in Pro B until the Place de la Liberté at 4:15 p.m.
At 4:30 p.m., Firminy will receive the flame at the Le Corbusier site, the largest architectural ensemble in Europe designed by the famous French town planner with more than 1,000 housing units, a church, a stadium and a swimming pool spread over 15 hectares. Arrival is scheduled at the Le Corbusier stadium at 4:50 p.m.
The lit cauldron in Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is the last stage of the route in the Loire. After a five-minute stay in the seniors’ community, between 5:25 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Then the crossing of Saint-Étienne will begin at 5:40 p.m. itself with the Planetarium, inaugurated in 1993, which raises awareness of the history of men and space.
Couriot Mining Museum, which traces the history of coal mining in Saint-Étienne, will shine as the flame passes. Just like the Design City, located on the former site of the Arms Manufacture.
Then it will be time to go to Geoffroy-Guichard, the ASSE stadium which will return to Ligue 1 next season, the aptly named Le Chaudron. There is no doubt that the Saint-Etienne public will want to confirm its reputation as one of the most enthusiastic audiences in the country when the Olympic cauldron is lit at 7:20 p.m.
