What if we told you that French is the official language of the Olympics? Admit it, you weren’t expecting that… With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games around the corner, we want to dive into the history of the Olympics and discover why the French language plays such an important role.
Why is French the official language of the Olympic Games?
They’re here!
The Olympics, which will take place in the French capital, are just here!
France will host the Summer Olympic Games for the third time from July 26 through September 8, after hosting them in 1900 and 1924.
Have you ever asked yourself why the French language has such a presence in the Olympics in general?
Why is French one of the official language of the Olympic Games?
You must have noticed that the official announcements are done in French, with a loud and clear “Mesdames et Messieurs!”
The referees also shout “Attention, prêts, partez!” in athletics, or “En garde, prêts, allez!” in fencing.
Coincidence?
Maybe not…the influence of the language of Molière is simply due to the fact that French is the official language of the Olympics.
How did this come to be? Let’s talk a little about Pierre de Coubertin…
Who is Pierre de Coubertin?
Pierre de Coubertin was a French educator and historian. He was also the founder of the modern Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee in 1894.
Being the defender of French culture he was, he established French as one of the two official languages of the Olympics.
This decision guaranteed the use of French in all communications, ceremonies, and official protocols. English is the second official language of the Olympics. Do you know what year it became the official language? 1972!
The International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee’s regulation stipulates that all official documents, announcements, and directives should be available in French, meaning that the French language has a central role in the Olympics.
This resolution is officially registered in the Olympic Charter: “For each sport an explanatory brochure, containing the general programme and arrangements, shall be printed in French and English, as well as in the language of the country in which the Games are being held.”
And that’s not all. The Charter also stipulates that “In case of a discrepancy between the French and the English texts of these Rules, the French text shall prevail.” French comes first in the Olympic Games!
Olympic vocabulary
Now that you know all the francophone history behind the Olympics, all that’s left to do is practice your French! As a warm-up, here’s some Olympic-themed vocab (which you can also find in a video on our Instagram):
- Le tir à l’arc 🏹
- La natation 🏊♂️
- L’escrime 🤺
- L’équitation 🏇
- La boxe 🥊
- La voile ⛵
- Le cyclisme 🚴♀️
- La gymnastique 🤸♂️
- Une médaille d’or 🥇, d’argent 🥈, de bronze 🥉
Let’s end this article with the motto of the Olympic Games, also adapted from Pierre de Coubertin. It was later modified in 2021 with a touch of added solidarity: “Faster, higher, stronger… Together.”
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