'Imagine Snoop takes the flame and lights his joint'

Paris American rapper Snoop Dogg held the flame aloft as the Olympic torch relay neared the end of its 68-stage trek through France ahead of yester's opening ceremony.

The flame was also borne by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and a string of beaming, waving, volunteer carriers.

"The relay is over," said an official preparing to drive away from the last stop on the Canal Saint Martin in a car carrying the slogan "flame relay".

"Next stop: the cauldron."

The heavily-guarded flame was headed into the centre of town ready for the final lap of its long journey, ending with the revelation of which star would run the final leg and light the cauldron to officially start the Games.

The last day of the relay was entitled the "Epilogue".

The torch had passed through some smarter Paris addresses, on 14 July, the Bastille Day national holiday, and 15 July, before circling the suburbs.