Phew, that was exciting. Luckily, I was able to prepare myself practically and emotionally a month earlier in the south of France. But first things first:. Last fall, I was surprised by the news that I had been chosen as one of the lucky ones to take part in the unique event of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Airbnb, as an official partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay, had the great privilege of proposing to the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games a shortlist of people who would carry the Olympic Flame to Paris. Thank you for that! As a participant, you must embody at least one of the following energies: The energy of sport and the Games , the energy of the athletes, volunteers and amateur sportspersons from the various sports associations.
The energy of the communities , symbolised by all those who are running businesses, innovating, creating and embodying French excellence across all sectors, throughout France. The collective energy , showcased by those who are taking action each day to build a more inclusive, more sustainable and fairer society with a stronger focus on solidarity. I was delighted when my participation was confirmed, and I was soon able to start planning. After all, you don't carry the torch alone, you are part of a team, you take over the flame and pass it on.
And then there are all the people who accompany you on the way, who stand at the side of the road and wave to you, and who run along as security guards.
That's why it was important to me right from the start to promote communication, at least among those who were carrying the flame; and so I was able to gather 40 torch runners in a WhatsApp group, all of whom were selected by Airbnb. We exchanged ideas and often found ourselves assigned to the same route on the same day.
