Halle Berry is set to be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics! The celebrated actress will carry the Olympic flame down the Croisette in Cannes, France, ahead of the Paris Games, according to Page Six. This event will take place on Tuesday, with the famed French Riviera boulevard temporarily closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time as Berry makes her way through.
The tradition of the Olympic Flame is steeped in history, connecting the ancient and modern versions of the games. In ancient Greece, a sacred fire burned throughout the celebrations of the ancient Olympics. The modern Olympic Torch Relay has been a part of every Summer Games since Berlin 1936. The tradition begins at Olympia, Greece, where the flame was lit on April 16 during a special ceremony at the archaeological site of Olympia. Since then, it has been making its way to Paris through a relay. Once it reaches the host city, the torch will burn in a cauldron for the duration of the Games until it is extinguished during the closing ceremony.
Berry joins a prestigious list of celebrities who have carried the torch, including Muhammad Ali, Ann Curry, Magic Johnson, Diane Sawyer, Lance Bass, Sylvester Stallone, Ryan Seacrest, David Beckham, John Legend, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry. Naomi Osaka was the final torchbearer for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she carried the torch into the Olympic Stadium and lit the Olympic cauldron.
Halle Berry will carry the Olympic torch down the Croisette in Cannes, France, on Tuesday, as reported by Page Six. The “Monster’s Ball” star will carry the Olympic flame ahead of the Paris Games’ kickoff next week. The French Riviera boulevard, known for its designer shops and currently hosting the Cannes Lions festival, will be shut down temporarily as Berry makes her way through.
The closure of the Croisette has caused some concern among festivalgoers. Stagwell Sport Beach, Spotify, MediaLink, and other setups on the beach will not be accessible unless patrons have crossed the street before Berry’s strut. One Lions attendee expressed frustration, asking, “How am I supposed to get to my events if the Croisette is shut down?” Another attendee echoed the sentiment, calling the timing “unfortunate.”
However, not everyone is upset. An ad executive whose events are store-side and unaffected by the closure shared her excitement, saying, “It’ll be so amazing to see her carrying the torch! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Berry, 57, has been busy on Capitol Hill recently, advocating for funding for research and education around menopause. “The shame has to be taken out of menopause. We have to talk about this very normal part of our life that happens,” she said in May from the Capitol. “Our doctors can’t even say the word to us, let alone walk us through the journey.”
On Tuesday morning, Halle Berry lit the Olympic torch outside the Palais in Cannes. The Oscar-winning actress stood on the red steps of the Palais des Festivals during the Cannes Lions festival, posing for photos before strolling down the famed boulevard with the lit torch in an all-white, athletic-looking ensemble. She waved to fans who lined both sides of the street as she made her way to her handoff point, where another person took up the torch for part of the relay event.
The iconic flame eventually made its way to Megan Rapinoe, Paul Rabil, and Shaun White, who carried it as a group. Page Six broke the news on Monday that the “Monster’s Ball” star would participate in the ceremony. The Croisette was shut down for two hours to make way for the torch’s passing.
Festival attendees were divided by the decision to have the Olympic event take place during the Cannes Lions festival. The street closure prevented people from getting to their events on the beach if they didn’t cross in time. One attendee questioned the city’s decision, saying, “I can’t believe the City of Cannes allowed this in light of the festival’s takeover. I understand it’s an important moment, but this festival does more for the local economy.”
Berry has recently been advocating on Capitol Hill for funding for research and education around menopause. “The shame has to be taken out of menopause. We have to talk about this very normal part of our life that happens,” she said in May from the Capitol after revealing she’s going through her changes. “Our doctors can’t even say the word to us, let alone walk us through the journey.”
