In February 1968, at least seven athletes from Saint-Martin-Vésubie in the Alpes-Maritimes carried the Olympic flame, that of the Winter Olympics in Grenoble. Among them, Christian Richier. He was 20 years old at the time. Thanks to the research of a Vésubie historian, he will be there on June 15, with three other veterans, to welcome a replica of the flame which will pass through the village.
He is almost surprised to be called. At 76, Christian Richier is enjoying a peaceful retirement in Saint-Martin-Vésubie and his memories have noticeably faded. Above all, he seems the first to be surprised by the curiosity that an episode in his life arouses around him, in this Olympic year.
It is February 1968. Grenoble is preparing to host the Winter Olympic Games. It was the golden age of French alpine skiing: Jean-Claude Killy won three gold medals, Marielle Goitschel also finished on the first step of the podium. But for the moment, France is holding its breath and marching towards the Games to the rhythm of the Olympic flame. Leaving Greece on December 16, 1967, she has just crossed the main French massifs, and is returning from Corsica.
From Menton, she sets off again to attack the Alps, first by bike to Vésubie, then on foot, from Roquebillière to Saint-Martin-Vésubie.
This is where the small, uneventful life of Christian Richier will meet the great history of the Olympics. The young man is 20 years old. He is a carpenter, but like all young people his age, he must do his military service.
I was in the army, with the Alpine hunters. Jean Grinda, at the time a guide and ski instructor in Vésubie, was looking for athletes from Saint-Martin capable of running 2 km uphill.
Christian Richier, bearer of the Olympic flame in 1968
He has the ideal profile: here he is recruited, with six other men, to carry the flame from Saint-Martin to La Colmiane. In his memory, there are seven flame bearers, for seven kilometers of ascension.
“The first left with the flame of Saint-Martin and entrusted it to another bearer at the 2nd kilometer. They ran together, then the second bearer transmitted the flame to the next one, forming a duo with him, and thus We each did 2 km in a row.” remembers Christian Richier.
Upon arrival at the top, a podium awaits them and Colmiane celebrates the event with great fanfare.
At the time, Christan Richier did not realize the significance of the event: “ At 20, we had other things to think about, and then the Games weren’t happening at home. Grenoble was far from us.”.
So much so that even souvenir photos of the event are lost over the years, collective memory fades, and this historic day is almost forgotten.
Until this unexpected find: a little over two years ago, a collector of postcards and old photos unearthed a photograph from February 1968 and entrusted it to Eric Gili, a historian well known in the village because he runs the museum on a voluntary basis. of the heritage of the Haut-country, devastated during storm Alex.
It’s an exceptional surprise: everything starts from this photo, which we discover. If you look closely, you recognize one person, then two. I went to meet them and discovered this story.
Eric Gili, historian, volunteer director of the Haut-Pays heritage museum
Eric Gili was born in 1968. He does not have a living memory of this event, and will therefore engage in a real memory hunt to reconstruct this Olympic day: according to the route he reconstructed, three porters walked relayed from Roquebillière.
In Saint-Martin-Vésubie, the flame is officially handed over to the mayor. He counted eight porters: Gilbert and Josian Franco, Christian and Lucien Richier, Jean-Marie Garin, Jean Grinda, Jean-Louis Campero and the teacher Mr. Março.
There were people there: all the children from the school were there, forming a guard of honor with their ski poles, on the main square and along the paths.
Eric Gili, historian, volunteer director of the Haut-Pays heritage museum
Arriving at La Colmiane, the flame is entrusted to the resort’s ski instructors.
But what the historian discovers is that, in this context of the Winter Olympic Games, a pharaonic ski resort project was born around Saint-Martin-Vésubie.
“In 1963 -1964, the village brought high-level athletes: Marielle Goistchel, Jean-Claude Killy, for a “ski swimming” event in Boréon. Two slaloms in the morning, before going to swim in Nice and Cannes.” says Eric Gili
Saint-Martin-Vésubie is in vogue. Then emerges the “Azur 1800” project.
It was a huge ski resort project, including Venanson, Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, Colmiane, Boréon, with even a possible extension to Gordolasque.
Eric Gili, historian, volunteer director of the Haut-Pays heritage museum
The historian also mentions a Mercantour tunnel project to pierce the mountain and reach Italy, with a two-lane highway through Vésubie.
The State is ready to put money on the table, and make white gold flow freely down the Vésubie. But Isola 2000 comes out of the ground earlier, and above all, the birth of the Mercantour National Park will put a stop to this project.
A day to celebrate the flame on June 15
This is the whole story that Eric Gili wants to tell on June 15. That day, a replica of the 1968 flame will once again pass through the village. Why not the real one? “The National Sports Museum in Nice offered to lend it to me, but its value is estimated at 35,000 euros and we do not have the means to insure it.
Never mind: an exact copy was made by an artist from Lantosque, Patrick Poggioli. She’s ready for the big day. This time it is the members of the Vésubie sports club who will wear it. Children and adults throughout the village. In front of the town hall, it will be handed over to the four veterans of the time, including Christian Richier.
His granddaughter will be one of the pallbearers. A passing of the baton for this grandfather, who would not have said no to a few more little steps.
I will no longer do the 2 km running. But when walking, yes, why not, if my knee doesn’t hurt that day.
Christian Richier, former Olympic torch bearer
Because in hindsight, he retains a certain pride. “Not everyone has the privilege of having carried the flame.”
The final point of these festivities will take place in the Jean Grinda room, with a small conference by Eric Gili and the testimony of nine high-level athletes, including judoka Loic Pietri and motorcycle champion Justine Pedemonte, who will be present.
“As my research progressed, I realized to what extent sport is something social, important for people, concludes Eric Gili. When you start looking in the archives, you find documents everywhere, and you understand the Olympic spirit: everyone participated, and passed it on from generation to generation.“
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