The Olympic torch is on a long journey ahead of the thirty-third modern Olympic Games to involve as many French people as possible from all corners of the world in the celebration of the Games.

On Thursday, French Polynesia honoured its athletes and celebrated its rich heritage. The collective relay was organised by the Tahitian Surfing Federation and led by the legendary Tahitian surfer Hira Teriinatoofa. the paradisiacal islands, some 15,700 km from Paris, will be the epicentre of the second surfing event at the Olympic Games (after its debut at Tokyo 2020).

One of the highlights was the appearance of Michel Bourez at the end of the day. Another prodigy in this discipline, he lit the ceremonial cauldron at the ceremonial site in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia.

On 7 June, the Olympic torch embarked on an epic ten-day journey, crossing five overseas territories and three of the world's five oceans. Last Sunday, the torch arrived in French Guiana in the Atlantic Ocean, and on Wednesday 12 June, it shone in Réunion in the Indian Ocean. This Thursday, it enjoyed the beauty of the landscapes in the Pacific Ocean.

After its time in the Pacific, the torch will return to the Atlantic to visit Guadeloupe on 15 June and Martinique on 17 June, marking the end of this stage but not of the relays, which will continue until the start of the third Olympic Games on French soil.

The visit to French Polynesia was an opportunity for the relay to discover the region's unique cultural heritage and a variety of paradisiacal landscapes, from turquoise lagoons and mysterious caves to rugged peaks.

The day began with a nod to the surfing competitions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a visit to Teahupo'o on the island of Tahiti, where the events will be held between Saturday 27 July and Monday 5 August, depending of course on what nature has in store for the surfers.

From there, the Olympic Torch headed northwest to Teva I Uta, where it visited hundreds of varieties of exotic flowers, plants and trees in the Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens, before moving on to Motu Ovini, a peaceful seaside resort. The adventure continued to Papara, famous for its ten kilometres of black sand beach, and then to Taiarapu-Est, with its stunning landscapes and the turquoise waters of Paea.

The torch continued its intense journey north to the Papenoo region, a place that combines black sand beaches, an incredible surf spot and wild valleys. A canoe trip took the Olympic Torch to Pointe Vénus, before visiting the tomb of King Pomare V, the last king of Tahiti.

The day ended in the capital, Papeete, where the city's sporting venues and infrastructures were illuminated. The Olympic torch's route through the city began in Pirae, at the Aorai Tini Hau park, a favourite with families. 

It then visited Place Vai'ete, on the waterfront, and the Jardins de Paofai, a four-hectare green space also on the coast, before heading to the Willy Bambridge Sports Complex, inaugurated in the late 1960s, and ending the day at Place de To'ata. More than 120 athletes, local celebrities and members of the public from around the French archipelago took part in a very special day.

To celebrate this exceptional day, 122 torchbearers took turns carrying the Olympic torch. Among the participants were Christian Ti-Paon, world champion in para-cycling and gold medallist in V6 and silver medallist in V12 at the 2018 Para-va'a World Championships in speed racing; Antonin Mianne, head coach of the French Polynesian equestrian teams; and Michel Bourez, nicknamed "the Spartan".

Recognised as one of the most powerful surfers in the world, Bourez lit the ceremonial cauldron at the Place de To'ata, an entertainment area where many sports and cultural events take place. It was a magnificent day for the spectators, who had the opportunity to witness a variety of torchbearers with inspiring profiles, such as Vaimalama Chaves, former Miss Tahiti 2018 and Miss France 2019, who loves travel, adventure and music.

In Arue, in the north-east of Tahiti, Ra'ï Anania, a young high school student with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, carried the Olympic torch. Although he uses a wheelchair, he actively participates in table tennis and swimming, and is an inspiring role model for young people with disabilities.

Also present were Ravahere Silloux, another Miss Tahiti, and Rava Sachet, who works to promote the Polynesian territory and is a member of the association that organises the "Tahiti Color Fun Run", a fun run whose proceeds support local associations' projects.

But the main stars were the members of the Tahiti Surfing Federation. The Federation organised a gathering of surfing enthusiasts at Fare Mahora, in the south-east of Tahiti, on the coast of the famous Teahupo'o surf spot, one of the most famous, beautiful (and for many, dangerous) in the world.

Hira Teriinatoofa, a legend in Tahiti and coach of the French team, carried the Olympic torch as captain of the collective relay. He was joined by 23 other torchbearers, including parasurfer Toareia Bordes, a regular at bodyboarding events in the archipelago, Amy Tauria, the local bodyboarding champion, and Prisca Amaru, founder of the first surf school in Moorea.

The "prince and princess" of Teahupo'o, Kauli Vaast and Vahine Fierro, who will proudly represent France at the Paris 2024 Games, also enjoyed a prominent place on Thursday 13 June, as did Michel Demont, ISA longboard world champion in 1994, and Karyl Maoni, world champion in the discipline of va'a, the traditional Tahitian canoe.

There was also a place for Philippe Klima, the oldest member of the Tahitian Surfing Federation and kneeboarding world champion in the "immortal" category in 2020, to make his name in history. This collective relay highlighted the sporting spirit and unity of the local community ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The journey will continue this Saturday 15 June, after eight days of sailing aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI trimaran. They will land on the island of Guadeloupe, with its lush natural environment and white sandy beaches.