By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@SnoopDogg.
American rapper Snoop Dogg has been named as one of the final torchbearers of the Olympic flame before Friday’s opening ceremony in Paris.
The 52-year-old will carry the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis in the north of Paris, which is home to the Stade de France Olympic Stadium.
The Saint-Denis stretch is the penultimate leg of the flame’s journey before the relay ends at the Eiffel Tower.
The Olympic torch has crossed France since starting its journey in May and has been carried by a host of different personalities, including former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Formula One driver Charles Leclerc and actress Halle Berry.
Snoop Dogg, whose full name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, was born in Los Angeles – the host city for the 2028 Games.
He shared a photo of himself outside the city hall Hotel de Ville with the caption: “U Ready? Paris 2024 Olympics ya digggg.”
U ready? ? Paris 2024 Olympics ya digggg ??? pic.twitter.com/OOIo2DRZSC
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) July 23, 2024
The US artist will be joined by fellow torchbearers in Saint-Denis, including French actress Laetitia Casta and French rapper MC Solaar.
American Sean “Diddy” Combs did so for the 2004 Athens Olympics, while British musician Dizzee Rascal and Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am were involved in the build-up to London 2012.
Snoop has already been in the thick of events leading up to Friday, with the Los Angeles-born musician posting a time of 34.44 seconds over 200 metres at a special exhibition race at the US trials in Oregon last month.