US Rapper Snoop Dogg to Conclude Olympic Torch Relay in Saint-Denis
Snoop Dogg is set to carry the Olympic torch during its final stages as it passes through Paris, just before the opening ceremony on Friday. The torch’s journey will conclude in Saint-Denis, marking the start of the 33rd Olympic Games.
The renowned US rapper, famous for his hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” will be holding the torch as it makes its way through Saint-Denis. Snoop Dogg is in Paris as a special correspondent for the US TV network NBC, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
On Tuesday, the 52-year-old rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus Jr., posted a photo on the social media platform X. The image showed him standing outside the Hotel de Ville city hall, with the caption: “U Ready? Paris 2024 Olympics ya digggg,” accompanied by gold medal and boxing glove emojis.
Snoop Dogg, who boasts over 20 million followers on X, also engaged with his audience by writing: “U gots to do it!! Will u be watchin?? #FollowTheDogg #ParisOlympics.”
Mathieu Hanotin, the mayor of Saint-Denis, announced on X that after Snoop carries the torch, French Eurovision 2024 singer Slimane will perform a concert in front of the Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis. Hanotin added that this event would be the “last step before the Eiffel Tower.”
Born in Los Angeles, the host city of the 1932, 1984, and upcoming 2028 Games, Snoop Dogg recently showcased his athletic spirit. Last month, he participated in a special exhibition race at the US trials in Oregon, completing 200 meters in 34.44 seconds.
The Olympic torch was initially lit in Greece in April at the ancient site of Olympia, the birthplace of the Games, before being carried across France by a relay of runners.
The opening ceremony, taking place on the River Seine this Friday night, will feature athletes parading on boats, offering a unique twist to the traditional march.
Notably, other hip-hop artists have carried the Olympic torch in previous Games. Sean “Diddy” Combs was involved in the 2004 Athens Olympics, and British rapper Dizzee Rascal, alongside Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am, participated in the buildup to the London 2012 Games.
The torch relay’s 68th stage will see it travel through the Olympic Village, passing landmarks such as the Aquatics Centre and the Stade de France, before reaching the banks of the Seine.
