La Lycéenne is a race specifically aimed at young women from high schools across France, with 5,000 taking to the streets of the country today.

Races were held in Caen, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Ajaccio as well as Paris.

Those taking part were encouraged to run at least 2,024 metres in recognition of the capital's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The event was supported by insurance firm MAIF, an official partner of Paris 2024.

In each city, a number of high profile ambassadors were on hand to support the runners.

These included Rio 2016 gold medal winning judoka Emilie Andeol and Paris Saint Germain women's footballer Laure Boulleau.

Paris 2024 co-chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "La Lycéenne is a fantastic initiative that we hope will encourage thousands of school girls from across France to engage with sport. 

"By empowering women across France, we hope that more women than ever before will be ready to compete in 2024. 

"Diversity is at the heart of our bid and we want to encourage more and more women to take up sport, develop leadership skills and get active."

Paris is bidding against Los Angeles for the 2024 Games, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to elect a host city at its Session in Peru's capital Lima on September 13 this year.

Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, said: "I want to congratulate all of the girls who turned out today to take part in La Lycéenne, and I am delighted at how many took part. 

"This is a special event on a very special day for women, and we want to carry this excitement and enthusiasm all the way into Paris 2024."