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As the Olympic torchbearer at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Zinedine Zidane could have made an even more spectacular appearance.
Zinedine Zidane was there, but not necessarily where we expected him… Expected to be in Marseille – his hometown – for the arrival of the Olympic flame on French soil, the former number 10 of the Blues finally made a remarkable appearance in the capital, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games, on July 26.
The 98 world champion launched this opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics with Jamel Debbouze through a short film shot at the Stade de France. “Zizou” then reappeared later in the evening, in the pouring rain, to pass the torch to Rafael Nadal.
Zidane “hanging from a helicopter”, Joly’s crazy idea
If the scene between the football legend and the tennis legend was striking, it could have been even more spectacular. Indeed, the director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Thomas Jolly, had imagined a ”
flyover of the flame carried by Zinedine Zidane, suspended from a helicopter at low altitude ” over Paris,” he revealed during an interview with Telerama.
A slightly crazy idea that clearly pleased Zidane, who ”
was OK “, according to Thomas Jolly. However, for organizational and security reasons, this project ultimately did not see the light of day.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
