The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

BEFORE the Olympics begin later this month, 11,000 people will have carried the Olympic Torch in a relay.

One of them is a Bahamian.

Michael Guy, 43, got his chance on Friday in the northeast French city of Saint Dizier. Photographers and people of all ages, many waving flags of different countries, crowded the relay route to capture the moment.

The Olympic Torch Relay is a longstanding tradition of the games. As usual, the relay began this year in Greece, the Olympics’ birthplace, and arrived on its journey across France on May 8.

The flame route has been designed to highlight the country’s history.

Surrounded by security guards, participants typically carry the torch for 300 meters.

As the initial torchbearer approached Mr Guy, a torch kiss between the two signalled the start of his journey. 

His route started in an area with many children’s sports clubs, so he encountered many children who wanted pictures of the torch.

Friday’s moment was long in the making for Mr Guy, who lives in the United Kingdom.

Last year, he was nominated by his swimming club because of his work in the sport. He was involved in the 2012 London Olympics and the Paralympics, the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2022, and the Para Swimming World Championships.

His nomination was sent to the Paris 2024 local organising committee, which kicked off what he called “a bit of a long process.” About a year later, the committee formally offered him to participate in the relay.

“I had to go through two different rounds of selection and judging based on my background with sports and volunteering and then I had to keep it quiet for a number of months as well,” he said. “So only about three months ago, they announced it, and that’s when I was allowed to tell people that actually I’d been selected as a torch bearer.”

He said the torch was surprisingly heavy.

“It was a one and a half kilograms and you also had to hold it because, obviously, it’s emitting heat as well. So they tell you, don’t keep it too close to your body but it was fine.”

It was easy for Mr Guy to forget how heavy the torch was amid the energy and excitement of the moment.

“The crowds are just going nuts while you’re there,” he said.

He said he did not initially register the significance of being a Bahamian carrying the torch. Friday was Flag Day in The Bahamas and he reflected on the way the small country has held its own at the Olympics.

“You just think of yourselves, as historically, this torch relay, it’s about messengers of peace, and you’re carrying this message from town to town about peace and friendship and the power of sport,” he said. “So I just felt as part of that sort of Olympic movement.”

“But obviously, it was flag day on Friday as well. So you are very proud to be a Bahamian and also be part of that relay. 

“We’re a small country, but we’re a very proud country. “

Mr Guy said he would return to Paris for the opening of the Olympic Games and attend a few sporting events.