A masked figure bearing the Olympic torch has made multiple appearances during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
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The mysterious torchbearer, dressed in a black cloak, white hood, and dark fencing mask, has been spotted repeatedly throughout the Paris Olympics opening ceremony event, ‘parkouring’ across the across the Parisian skyline and the capital’s iconic landmarks.
The spectacle began when the torch was ‘stolen’ from a group of children, as reported by The Independent.
From that moment, the ceremony intermittently cut to scenes of the crobatic performer leaping across rooftops and buildings, carrying the Olympic flame.
The identity of this masked individual remains a closely guarded secret. As The Independent notes:
“The torchbearer will likely light the Olympic cauldron to mark the start of the Games at the very end of the ceremony, with that detail kept secret from the pre-ceremony briefings.”
The character’s appearance and actions have drawn comparisons to popular culture.
Many viewers have likened the torchbearer to characters from the video game franchise “Assassin’s Creed.” As 9News reports, “One of the games, ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity,’ is set in revolution-era France, and features an assassin dressed similarly to the torch runner helping topple tyrants across Paris.”
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Others have drawn parallels to the Netflix show “Lupin,” which features a gentleman thief operating in Paris. These comparisons highlight how the ceremony’s organisers have tapped into both historical and contemporary French cultural elements.
The torchbearer’s journey through Paris has included some notable stops.
Louis Vuitton tweeted about the figure’s appearance at their atelier: “A masked torchbearer crosses the roofs and ateliers of the Maison at Pont Neuf, revealing the savoir-faire of the craftsmen of the #LouisVuitton Medals Trunks for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”
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A masked torchbearer crosses the roofs and ateliers of the Maison at Pont Neuf, revealing the savoir-faire of the craftsmen of the #LouisVuitton Medals Trunks for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
— Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) July 26, 2024
The identity of the torchbearer, and whether they will be the one to light the Olympic cauldron, remains a mystery. We’ll have to wait and see!
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Feature Image: Getty
