Rap artist Snoop Dogg strut through the suburbs of Paris, proudly carrying the Olympic torch ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday.
The Grammy-nominated Snoop, who will provide commentary as a special correspondent throughout the Olympic Games, walked through the streets of Saint-Denis as the final torchbearer. French actress Laetitia Casta and French rapper MC Solaar also carried the torch in Saint-Denis.
“I look at this as a prestigious honor and something I truly respect. I would never have dreamed of nothing like this,” Snoop said earlier this week. “I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.”
Snoop, dressed in a white Olympic tracksuit and gold sneakers, held the torch aloft as it will be carried to the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. This event is particularly notable as it will be the first time the cauldron is lit outside a stadium for the Summer Games.
The Olympic torch began its journey to France in May after spending 12 days in Greece. Florent Manaudou, who won a gold medal in the men’s 50-meter freestyle at the 2012 London Games, was the first person to receive the flame after it arrived in France.