‘A proud moment for French Tamils’ – Baker carries Olympic Torch ahead of Paris Games

Tamils lined the streets of Paris with flags and flowers to celebrate as Tamil baker Tharshan Selvarajah became the first Eelam Tamil to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the Paris Games.

Selvarajah was cheered on by friends and members of the French Tamil diaspora as he carried the torch through the streets of Paris last week.

Tamils lined the streets of Paris with flags and flowers to celebrate as Tamil baker Tharshan Selvarajah became the first Eelam Tamil to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the Paris Games.

Selvarajah was cheered on by friends and members of the French Tamil diaspora as he carried the torch through the streets of Paris last week.

The star baker, who last year won the title of having the best baguette in Paris, waved to supporters as he marched through Paris, many of whom were waving Tamil Eelam and French flags.

"It is a hugely proud moment for us as French Tamils," said Shankar, a French Tamil who saw the scenes on social media. "Especially at a moment like this when the whole world has its eyes on Paris!"

"After the genocide we faced and all we have gone through as a community, we are finally beginning to be recognised for our incredible achievements around the world."

A smaller contingent with the Sri Lankan embassy in France was also present, holding Sri Lankan flags instead. The Sri Lankan embassy later posted about being at the event on its official Twitter account.

Selvarajah left the island of Sri Lanka in 2006 and currently lives in Paris, where tens of thousands of other Eelam Tamils, many of whom fled the genocide, currently reside.

^{All photographs courtesy of @sokka_vigithan.}