With the Olympic Games underway, the sporting spirit is high in Paris, enticing residents and visitors to take a jog along the city's Historical Axis.
The Historical Axis runs through some of Paris’s most celebrated landmarks and squares, many of which are currently adorned with Olympic flair. Along the route are the Louvre with its Glass Pyramid, the Arc de Triomphe, the Place de la Concorde with its Egyptian obelisk, and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees with the Grande Arche at its extended end, altogether providing a unique coming-together of the past and present, blending history and modernity.
In a charming jog-along interview, Julien Gaudfroy, a French performer and musician who has lived in China and has even performed comedic routines in fluent Chinese, introduced his country's famous capital to a China Central Television reporter as the pair embarked on a delightful morning run.
Paris's axis runs east-west. Joggers can start from the forecourt of the Paris City Hall, which serves as the starting point for the marathon at the Paris Olympics.
Jogging along the axis from the City Hall, one encounters the Louvre where the Glass Pyramid is located. The structure, designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, has become an integral part of the city’s landscape, despite initial resistance to its modern style.
Entering the central Tuileries Garden, visitors cannot miss the spectacular Olympic cauldron balloon surrounded by flocks of tourists where the Olympic flame was lit. The garden, with its lakeside chairs, exudes a relaxing atmosphere.
"You wouldn't normally see this view. The 2024 Paris Olympics bring this unique scene. The Tuileries Garden, together with the Louvre, has become part of it," said Gaudfroy.
Adjacent to the garden is the Place de la Concorde, where the Luxor Obelisk stands. The obelisk was brought to France as a gift in 1830 from Luxor in Egypt.
The jogging route ends at the Grande Arche, a monument and building in the business district of La Défense, which is surprisingly filled with artistic flair and numerous sculptures.
"The end of the axis is Grande Arche, or the new Arc de Triomphe. Along the way, we have seen the two arches, which echo each other," Gaudfroy said.
After more than 10 kilometers of jogging, one can head to the Market of the Red Children, which offers a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables, seafood, and cheeses.
"The market has a unique charm. It has this lively atmosphere. Look at these walls behind us, these restaurants, and the handwritten menus. It's very Parisian," said the French performance artist.
As American writer Ernest Hemingway once wrote, "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."
The Olympic Games offer the world a special edition of Paris, welcoming visitors from all over the globe to explore the ancient city's blend of tradition and modernity.
Jogging along Paris's historical axis offers unique experience for Olympic fans
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has reached 41,226 amid intensified violence and stalled ceasefire negotiations, threatening the continuation of a crucial polio vaccination campaign for children.
On Monday, Gaza health authorities reported that Israeli military actions over the past 24 hours resulted in 20 deaths and 76 injuries. Since the outbreak of the current conflict on October 7 of last year, Israeli military operations have killed 41,226 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and injured 95,413.
According to reports from London-based The New Arab on Monday, a Palestinian source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations revealed that the talks have been "ineffective" in recent weeks.
Mediators have attempted to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reengage in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and securing the release of Israeli hostages. However, Netanyahu has introduced new demands, including maintaining control over the "Philadelphia Corridor," a narrow buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza, which have complicated negotiations.
The source highlighted a "real gap" between the demands of Hamas and Netanyahu, which has obstructed progress towards a ceasefire agreement. The source criticized Netanyahu for frequently changing his stance and noted that Qatar and Egypt are now trying to persuade the United States to convince Netanyahu to meet the requirements for a ceasefire.
Ceasefire talks, which began on August 15 in Doha, have involved senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, the U.S., and Israel, as well as lower level working groups.
Despite several meetings in Doha and Cairo addressing issues like the ceasefire and the release of hostages, negotiations have recently stalled. Hamas has not directly participated in these talks but has been receiving updates from mediators.
Fighting continued on Sunday in Gaza, with Israeli forces targeting schools and refugee camps, resulting in numerous casualties.
An Israeli airstrike on a school in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, reportedly struck a shelter for displaced persons on Sunday, although the Israeli military claimed it was a Hamas command center. Casualty figures from this attack are still being assessed.
Additionally, Israeli forces attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, and Gaza City, resulting in dozens of Palestinian deaths, including women and children.
Israeli airstrikes also targeted Rafah in southern Gaza, killing at least two Palestinians. Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced attacks on Israeli military vehicles near Rafah.
Less than a week ago, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that after over 11 months of military operations, Hamas's military infrastructure in Gaza "no longer exists." In response, Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan stated that the group remains capable of continuing the fight against Israel.
Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), reported that 90 percent of children in Gaza have received the first dose of the polio vaccine.
Lazzarini warned that the next major challenge is to secure a new humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that children receive the second dose by the end of the month.
The vaccination campaign, which began on September 1, was temporarily facilitated by a limited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 41,226 amid stalled ceasefire talks
