L'X at the July 14th parade, between the Paris Olympics and the Liberation celebrations

The number of Cycle ingénieur polytechnicien program students taking part in the July 14th parade was slightly reduced, due to a modified itinerary and a more modest organization than usual to take account of preparations for the Paris Olympics. 

The 240 students of class X2023 marched with the color guard, made up of six students, under the command of Colonel Capdeville, Chef de Corps and Director of Human and Military Training at l’X, followed by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Poswiat, Commander of class X2023, and accompanied by 12 supervisors. 

The School's flag, received by François Arago (X1803) under the First Empire, was awarded the insignia of the Croix de la Légion d'honneur in 1914 and the Croix de guerre in 1922 in recognition of the Polytechniciens' involvement in the First World War. It is traditionally worn by the class valedictorian, cadet Christel Tahhan, for the 2024 parade. 

This year's Bastille day military parade deviated from its usual route on the Champs-Elysées to take place on Avenue Foch in Paris, as preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics had made the Place de la Concorde, where the parade usually ends, impassable.

The Armies adapted to this new configuration, with an axis one-third shorter and a narrower roadway, dispensing with motorized troops and reducing the number of foot troops by one-fifth - from 5,000 to 4,000. The flypast was led by 43 aircraft and 22 helicopters, and closed with the Patrouille de France. 

The two themes chosen by the Armed Forces for this parade - the 80th anniversary of the Liberation and Olympism - were particularly resonating with the Polytechnicien spirit.

The École polytechnique, which celebrates its 230th anniversary this year, has accompanied the country through its highs and lows, as well as its greatest achievements, since it was founded in 1794, illustrating Napoleon's motto: “Pour la Patrie, les Sciences et la Gloire” (“For the Fatherland, Science and Glory”). Thirty-three polytechnicians were named Compagnons de la Libération. 

Olympism was illustrated during the parade by the first relay of the flame in Paris by Colonel Thibaut Valette, gold medallist in eventing (equitation) at the Rio Games in 2016.

Sport plays an important role in the training of polytechnicians, teaching them to surpass themselves, to be daring and to make a collective effort. 

The 550 or so Polytechnique students in a given year are divided into “sports sections”, with 16 major disciplines - including 14 Olympic disciplines - that they have chosen to practice.