The sporting Francophonie
The 2024 Olympic Games which will take place in Paris highlight the importance of the French language in this major global event. The French language, one of the official languages of the Olympic Games, plays a central role in communication, celebrating of cultural and linguistic diversity, and maitaining Olympic values. Therefore, within the context of the 2024 Olympic Games, the event will be crucial for sports in the French-speaking world as well as French-speaking athletes from different backgrounds.
The French language and the global Olympic “movement”
The French language is rooted in the history of the Olympic Games, its influence dating back to the creation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the late 19th century. As the official language of the IOC, French is used in official communications, speeches, protocols and official documents related to the Olympic Games. This linguistic presence strengthens the historical and cultural links between France and the global Olympic movement, while contributing to the influence and prestige of the French language. In addition, the IOC headquarters is located in Lausanne, in the heart of French-speaking Switzerland.
Official communications of the 2024 Olympics
The use of the French language in official communications for the 2024 Olympic Games contributes to clarity and universal understanding of essential information. With participants and spectators coming from all over the world, the French language provides a common platform to share crucial announcements, sporting results and logistical information. It thus promotes an inclusive Olympic experience which is aimed at the whole world, and particularly at members of the French-speaking world who have the opportunity to see the importance of their country’s official language and/or mother tongue.
Promoting French-speaking cultural diversity
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will serve as a showcase for the cultural richness of the French-speaking world and the diversity of countries that share French as an official language. The opening and closing ceremonies, related cultural events, and interactions between athletes, officials, and spectators will celebrate the diversity of French-speaking cultures. The French language thus becomes the connecting factor of a deep understanding of the histories and traditions of countries linked to the Francophonie, enriching the Olympic experience of each of them.
Contributing to the promotion of Olympic values
Within the context of the 2024 Olympic Games, the French language conveys Olympic values such as friendship, respect, and excellence. Official messages and athlete statements are communicated in a language that carries the history of the Olympic Games and embodies ideals of peace and mutual understanding. The French-speaking world at the 2024 Olympic Games therefore becomes a means of promoting the fundamental values of the Olympics beyond just sporting competitions.
