The question, “Who is the masked runner with the Olympic Flame?” remained unanswered.
Theories about the man or woman who carried the Olympic Flame on Friday night (26/7) confused those watching the Opening Ceremony of the Games, both in person and on television. Everyone expected that the identity would be revealed at the end, but it didn’t happen. The torch was handed to Zinedine Zidane, and the masked figure simply… vanished!
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The identity of the masked runner remains unknown for now. Spectators were left in awe of the way the runner moved, with their dramatic gestures and movements resembling those from the movie/video game “Assassin’s Creed.”
Initially appearing with the Flame on a boat, accompanied by music reminiscent of “The Phantom of the Opera” and dressed like the character from the aforementioned movie, the mysterious figure then made leaps from building to building, interrupting the coverage of nations arriving by boat on the River Seine. The runner was later seen heading towards the Louvre.
Internet Frenzy Over Identity
Scenes featuring the masked figure continued throughout the Ceremony, inevitably sparking a frenzy on social media, with theories about the runner’s identity going viral!
One Twitter user jokingly suggested, “If this masked runner doesn’t turn out to be Celine Dion, what are we even doing here?” Another mentioned, “For some strange reason, I expect it to be Leonardo DiCaprio.”
Interestingly, or perhaps intentionally, the official “Louis Vuitton” account posted: “A masked runner traverses the rooftops and workshops of the Maison on Pont Neuf, showcasing the craftsmanship of #LouisVuitton medals for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
One thing is certain: the person behind the mask was not Snoop Dogg. Footage of the American rapper was shown before and during the Ceremony on the River Seine, and he clearly had all eyes on him.
Another internet user brought Kylian Mbappé into the mix: “The most famous footballer in France, Kylian Mbappé, is not participating in the Olympic Games due to his commitments in the European Championship in Germany. Did he swap his Ninja mask for a darker one for the Opening Ceremony?”
Towards the end of the event, the masked runner with the Flame began running and leaping with great agility and skill, reminiscent of a gymnastics athlete.
The theory about the “Assassin’s Creed” game remains popular. This is produced by the French company “Ubisoft,” which posted an animated image of the main character Arno on a rooftop, gazing at the Louvre. The “Assassin’s Creed” account added fuel to the fire with their post: “Keep your eyes on the rooftops of Paris – Arno might be watching from above,” accompanied by an eye emoji.
In a more playful tone, another user claimed that “the Flame runner is the Unknown from the ‘Willy Wonka’ Experience.” Perhaps the identity of the masked figure will be revealed during the Closing Ceremony of the Olympics on August 11. Or maybe they will surprise us by winning a gold medal in fencing!
