Olympic Torch to Pass Through Schengen this Month

The Luxembourg government has confirmed that the Olympic torch will pass through the Grand Duchy later this month, on its way to Paris.

The Olympic torch is set to pass through Schengen on Thursday 27 June 2024. This will mark the second time that the Olympic torch travels to the Grand Duchy, the first time being on 27 July 1948, ahead of the London Summer Olympics.

The torch departed Marseille (France) on 9 May 2024 and is en route to Paris. It will pass through Apach (France) on 27 June before crossing the Moselle bridge (Alte Moselbrücke) towards Schengen, where the borders of Luxembourg, Germany and France meet. It will stay here for 20 minutes. The torch will be carried by former Luxembourg tennis player and three-time Olympic participant, Anne Kremer.

During the presence of the torch in Luxembourg, a ceremony with speeches, held in the presence of national and international authorities, will highlight the European significance of this historic moment ahead of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement in 2025.

After the welcome address by the Mayor of Schengen, Michel Gloden, the following figures are set to deliver speeches: Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Luxembourg Olympic and Sports Committee (COSL); Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel; Luxembourg's Minister of Sport, Georges Mischo; representative of the French government; Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer. A speech by COSL President André Hoffmann will close the ceremony.

After the official ceremony, the torch will travel from Yutz to Thionville before going to Scy-Chazelles (France) where Home Affairs Minister Léon Gloden will represent the Luxembourg government. There, the torch will illuminate the Robert Schuman House before reaching Metz (France), the last city of the day and place of celebration.