PARIS: France on Sunday hosted a special military parade to mark Bastille Day along with the Olympic torch in Paris.
The French capital is all set to host the Summer Olympics just after 12 days. Thousands of soldiers, sailors, rescuers and medics Games, joined torch relay and marched under roaring fighter jets.
On July 14, 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille fortress and jail in Paris, starting the French Revolution.
The day is a national holiday in the country and marked with events across France. The Paris parade is the highlight of the holiday. This year, a tribute is paid to those who freed France from the occupation by the Nazi 80 years ago, with a re-enactment of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.
Service members from the 31 nations whose troops contributed to the liberation also joined the celebrations. It is pertinent to mention that about half of the African nations were under French colonial rule during World War II.
Some 4,000 people and 162 horses took part in the show, among them units that served in NATO missions in Eastern Europe.
65 aircraft also flew in formations, including French Mirages, Rafales, a British Typhoon fighter alongside rescue helicopters and aircraft used in missions from Afghanistan to Mali or global drug busts.
President Emmanuel Macron kicked off the event with a review of the troops. Military bands and choirs played key roles, performing French military songs while American jazz tunes, a Scottish bagpipe ballad and the Marseillaise were also played.
The parade ended up with the arrival of the Olympic flame, escorted by riders on horseback, 25 torchbearers, and cadets dressed in the five Olympic colours.
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Publish date : 2024-07-14 15:52:21
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