French Olympians cheered en route to Sarkozy meeting

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — Hundreds of people thronged the leafy Champs-Elysees avenue on Tuesday to pay tribute to the French Olympic team as it made its way to a special reception with President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Around a hundred of the country's sporting stars greeted the crowds from open-top buses draped in national flags, as the procession filed past the appropriately named Arc de Triumph.

"In China we were a little cut off (from the French public), but since our arrival at the airport on Monday it has been wonderful," said Christophe Guenot, who won bronze in Greco-Roman wrestling.

"I feel like I'm reliving the 1998 World Cup parade - but this time as a participant and not a spectator," he added.

Bronze medal boxer Alexis Vastine said: "I'm surprised by the...