On July 17, the athlete representing Armenia, shooter Elmira Karapetyan, participated in the flame relay of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris. It took place in the territory of the palace of the same name in Villers-Cotterêts, France.

Elmira Karapetyan, representing the country hosting the 10th Francophonie Games in 2027, received the Olympic flame from Arnold Kisoka, an athlete and judoka representing the country that hosted the previous Francophonie Games, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Amelie Udea-Castera, Armenian Ambassador Hasmik Tolmajyan, DRC Minister of Sports and Entertainment Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, Director of the International Committee of Francophone Games Zeina Mina, Minister of Youth and Sports of Francophone Countries were present at the solemn ceremony organized on this occasion. General Secretary of the Conference of Ministers, Louise René Tobin, representatives of regional and municipal authorities, the directorate of the International Center of the French Language located in the palace above, and many French people.

As part of the ceremony, a parade was also held with the participation of various French sports federations, followed by the opening of an open-air exhibition entitled "Olympic Games and Francophonie."

In the final speech of the ceremony, Ambassador Tolmajian emphasized the historicity of the moment because, for the first time in the history of newly independent Armenia, the athlete representing Armenia participates in the flame relay of the Olympic Games. He emphasized that it is no coincidence that this historical moment is taking place within the framework of the Paris Olympic Games, in the Villers-Cotterêts Palace, which is particularly important for the French language, which once again proves the special and centuries-old friendship of the Armenian and French peoples.

The Ambassador also noted that the participation of the representative of Armenia, the host country of the next Francophonie Games, in the flame relay also symbolized the recognition of Armenia's commitment to Francophonie and Francophone values ​​and emphasized that after the 17th Francophonie Summit held in Yerevan in 2018, the 10th Francophonie Games to be held in Armenia in 2027 will be the second the most significant international event that Armenia has ever hosted.

French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Amelie Udea-Castera and DRC Minister of Sports and Entertainment Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga delivered the final speeches.

Villiers-Cotre is one of the cities with an exceptional history in France. It was in the Villiers-Cotre palace in 1539. French King Francois 1st signed a decree that made the use of French in all legal acts mandatory. In addition, world-famous French writer Alexandre Dumas was also born in this city.

During 2018-2022, on the direct initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, the Villiers-Cotre Palace was renovated and improved, and the International Center of the French Language was located there. On October 4-5, the 19th Summit of La Francophonie will take place at the Villers-Cotterêts Palace.