France, Feb. 3 -- The southern port city of Marseille will host the Olympic flame in April 2024 before it continues its journey across France to Paris,organisers announced on Friday.

The torch will arrive in Marseille from Greece, the spiritual home of the Olympics, on a three-masted ship.

"In the spring of 2024, Marseille will have the honour and good fortune to be the first city to welcome the Olympic flame on French soil," Paris 2024 organisers said in a statement.

"The Belem, a majestic three-masted ship, will carry the flame across the Mediterranean Sea from Athens to Marseille, two cities closely connected by a shared history."

Chief organiser Tony Estanguet said Marseille "was a natural and clear choice" to host the arrival of ...