If you have seen the opening, closing, and medal ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, you may have been surprised to hear so much French 鈥� even before English was spoken. Although the Olympic games have roots in ancient Greece, the French 鈥� and by extension, the French听language听鈥� had听a massive听historical听impact and role in the organization of听the modern Olympics games听that we know today.听Even so,听some fear that听the use of the French language in the Olympics has seen a decline in recent times, which has become a major area of concern.听But are the fears founded?听听

The Legacy of Pierre de Coubertin听

The听first recorded鈥疧lympic鈥疓ames were held at Olympia in 776 BC;听the sports festival听took place over a millennium before coming听to a halt in 393鈥疉D. However,听1,500 years later,听a Frenchman by the name听of听Charles Pierre Fredy de Coubertin, Baron de Coubertin,听a sociologist and educator whose interests spanned different aspects of life, education, and history, stepped in to revive the Olympics.听 Coubertin鈥檚 philosophy held that it was important to encourage new athletes and that healthy athletic competition among nations could promote understanding between cultures. In 1894 in a bid to create a better world and to foster peace through sport, he founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This was the birth of the modern-day Olympics. Although a Frenchman born in Paris,听Coubertin听organized the first edition of the modern games to be held听in听Athens, the听capital听of听Greece, in a nod to its ancient origins.听

Coubertin was also the creator of the five-ring Olympics symbol in 1913, the Olympic Charter (the Constitution of the modern Olympics games), the athlete’s oath, and the functions of the opening and closing ceremonies. Coubertin headed the IOC between 1896 and 1925, died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1937, and according to his wish, was laid to rest in Athens. 听

The legacy of Coubertin led to French being used as the first official language of the game whilst English served as the second major language. This was to honor the French听nobleman for resurrecting听and rebranding听the听ancient听event.听听

The听French Language听Declining? Not so!听

In the 2016 edition of the Olympic games听鈥撎齥nown as the听Games of the XXXI Olympiad,听held in the Brazilian city of听Rio De Janeiro 鈥搕he world watched on as the use of the French language was minimized compared to English, with听Brazilian听Portuguese the third official language. In fact, since the 2004 Games in Athens, the听Organisation听internationale听de la Francophonie听(the International Francophone Organization)听has听sent听a representative听or overseer听called 鈥淕rand听T茅moin鈥澨�(Great听Witness) to every edition of the Games听to ensure the strict听and active听use of the French language听as an official language.听听

During the planning stages of the听Tokyo听2020 Olympics games, the use of French听was almost relegated, as conferences were held in听Japanese听and English only. Official games materials were also printed in the same languages. The International Francophone Organization was quick to rise to intervene, as it then signed an agreement with the IOC organizers for Tokyo to make sure that the use of French was in place.听In 2019,听Secretary-General Louise听Mushilawabo听addressed the issue saying:听“La Francophonie welcomes the Tokyo 2020 commitment to respect the Olympics Charter with regard to official languages, of which French is an integral part.听This commitment reflects our shared vision for a world that respects linguistic and cultural diversity“.听

The French language presence in the Olympics has been a battle for the International Francophone Organization, which has worked to ensure the legacy of Coubertin is preserved. Micha毛lle Jean, former Governor-General of Canada and the 3rd Secretary-General of the International Francophone Organization听was the Grand听T茅moin听at the 2012听London Olympics and said that keeping听French at听the Olympics听was听鈥渁 struggle鈥� at each听Olympiad.听In the 2018听Winter Olympics听held in Pyeongchang,听South Korea, famous Cameroonian singer and saxophonist, Manu Dibango, was the official Grand T茅moin and said that he wanted to be 鈥渢he flag-bearer of the 300 million people around the world who speak French鈥�.听French chef Thierry Marx was appointed Grand听T茅moin听at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.听

So,听should everything at the Olympics be in French?听听

Well,听technically听鈥� yes. According to Article 23 of the Olympic Charter,听the听Constitution governing the IOC, French and English language are the official languages of the听Games. However,听and this is noteworthy,听in case of a dispute,听French takes precedent over English, as it is a听tribute to the听legacy听of听founder Pierre de Coubertin.听More specifically,听“in case of divergence between the French and English texts of the Olympics Charter, and any other IOC documents, the French texts shall prevail unless expressly provided otherwise in writing”.听

French Language Back听on听the Rise听

Contrary to popular belief, the French language is on the rise in terms of speakers, as the 6th most spoken language in the world after Chinese, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Arabic. French is the official language of 29 countries in the world, with Africa largely contributing to that number since it alone has 25 francophone countries. Worldwide, between 250 and 300 million people are estimated to be French speakers, including nearly 77 million native speakers. In Quebec, French speakers account for nearly 30% of the population of Canada. In Europe, apart from France, 40% of听Belgium鈥榮听population is听francophone. Approximately听20%听of the population of听Switzerland听speaks听French,听which is also听an official language of听Luxembourg听and Monaco.听Some even project that by 2050, the number of French speakers听will听double or听triple听due to the increase in the population of the sub-Saharan part of听Africa. This听could, rather incredibly,听keep听French听as one of听the world’s most spoken languages.听

Paris 2024: Historic听

It is music to the ears of the International Francophone Organization that after so many years of chasing the future of French as the official language of the modern Olympics, the Games will be coming to the shores of its founding father when Paris becomes the host city of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad less than 3 years from now. This is seen as a remarkable event, as many will seize this opportunity to celebrate and remember the legacy of Coubertin and reemphasize the role of French in the Games while ensuring its proper historical place of importance. “Paris 2024 is a unique opportunity, let us say even historic, to put the French language back in the spotlight within the Olympic movement,鈥� said Ivan Coste-Mani猫re, vice-president of the鈥�Francophone Association of Olympic Academies.听鈥淭his opportunity should not be missed, otherwise, everything will be lost”, he concluded.听

At听成人动漫 (CCA), we know languages 鈥� especially French, as both its听founders and co-owners speak and interpret it, and have Olympic experience. If you鈥檙e seeking French conference interpretation, we’re prepared to deliver the precision, clarity, and cultural fluency the event requires. Let us show you why we are considered the platinum standard of the translation听and interpretation听industry.听听

Contact us听online听today or give us a call at +1 (877) 708-0005!听

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