The Olympic flame has arrived on French soil at the southern port city of Marseille amid tight security, 79 days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Games.

After a 12-day trip from Greece on board the 128-year-old three-masted sailing ship Belem, the torch was carried on to land by France’s 2012 Olympic men’s 50m freestyle swimming champion Florent Manaudou.

It was handed to Paralympic track athlete Nantenin Keita, a 400m champion at Rio 2016, before Marseille-born French rapper Jul lit the Paris 2024 Olympic cauldron in front of an estimated crowd of 150,000 that included President Emmanuel Macron.

“It marks the end of preparations – the Games arrive in the life of the French people. The flame is here. We can be proud,” said Macron.

The Olympic flame relay will set off from the Mediterranean coastal city on Thursday and travel around France and to six overseas territories before arriving in Paris for the opening ceremony on 26 July.

A flotilla of more than 1,000 boats welcomed the Belem to Marseille.

Officials said 6,000 law enforcement officers, canine units and elite forces snipers would be on patrol.

“Life goes on in Marseille but in great security conditions,” said interior minister Gerald Darmanin. “It’s an unprecedented level of security.”

France raised its security threat level last October after a teacher was killed in a knife attack, while there are concerns that wars in Ukraine and Gaza could increase the threat.

In April of this year, Mr Darmanin spoke of an online threat to European sporting events that he said had been “publicly expressed” by the Islamic State group.

The president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, Tony Estanguet, said Marseille was the “obvious choice” to host the boat parade given it is France’s oldest city and was founded by Greeks.

Ben Sulayem has been embroiled in a series of other controversies since he was elected in December 2021.

Robyn did not respond to requests for comment from BBC Sport.

The FIA quoted her in a statement saying: “Performing in the role of CEO at the FIA has been an enormous privilege and I am grateful to have directed a programme of restructuring and reform.

“Now is the time to step away in the knowledge that the organisation is better placed for the challenges which lie ahead.”

The FIA statement said Robyn had “spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of the federation’s operational structure, playing a pivotal role in modernising the FIA, enhancing governance, and securing sustainable financial stability”.

Robyn, a former car industry executive for Volvo, Nissan and DaimlerChrysler, started work for the FIA in late 2022, and her recruitment was described at the time by Ben Sulayem as “a transformative moment for our federation”.

Ben Sulayem said in a statement about her departure: “Natalie’s appointment was notable as the first CEO in the history of the FIA. She has contributed greatly to a wide-ranging reorganisation of our operational and management structure as well as our financial sustainability.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Rangers they will face “the best version of the team since I’ve been here” in this weekend’s Old Firm derby.

Rodgers’ side will host Rangers on Saturday at lunchtime with a three-point advantage and a superior goal difference in the Scottish Premiership table.

A victory for the home team would give them a six-point lead with two games to play – and a goal difference at least nine better than Philippe Clement’s side.

While Rangers stuttered with a draw and a defeat following the 3-3 Old Firm draw in early April, Celtic have won their past three games to resume their grip on the title race.

“When I look at the injuries and disruptions we’ve had this season, last weekend was about there in terms of availability, fitness and where the team is at,” Rodgers told CelticTV.

“It’s as good a place as we’ve been all season. When we will arrive into this weekend’s game, this will be the best version of the team since I’ve been here.”

Rodgers was delighted with the energy his side showed in the 3-0 victory against third-placed Heart of Midlothian last weekend.

The Northern Irishman – who returned to Celtic last summer but was under pressure in February as Rangers went top of the table – was impressed with how “synchronised with and without the ball” his team was.

“It’s not a choice, it’s an obligation. It’s what you have to do. We are a running team. When we run, penetrate, press, counter-press… that’s our game,” he added.

“When we take the game to that level we play the game to a good level.

“That was the pleasing thing against a good Hearts team. Steven [Naismith] has coached them well to build through the pitch, but after the first 10-15 minutes we got our pressing right and the team was really compact and tight.”