Eumundi Voice - Issue 98, 25 July 2024

ON THIS DAY

France and the Olympics

The 2024 Olympic Games open in Paris on 26 July and mark a long history of engagement in the games by France. A Frenchman, Baron Pierre Coubertin, is considered the founder of the modern Olympics. While the honour of the first games went to Greece in 1896, France hosted the second games in 1900. France also hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924 and now 2024 and the Winter Olympics in 1924, 1968 and 1992.

Coubertin was the President of the International Olympic Committee from 1896 to 1925 and created the modern Olympic’s rings, representing the five inhabited continents. French is considered the first of three official languages of the Olympics and remains the first language used when medals are presented. At the 1900 Olympics hosted by France, medals were awarded to the top three winning athletes in each event. The practice was made permanent at the 1904 Olympics in St Louis, USA.

Courbertin was not without controversy. He opposed the participation of women in the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, 22 women

athletes were part of the 1900 Games, albeit from a total of 997 athletes. He is also said to have complimented Hitler on the 1936 Games.

The Paralympic Games were not a French initiative but since 1988 and 1992 have been held alongside Summer and Winter Olympic Games respectively. They began in 1948 as a sports competition for British WWII veteran patients with spinal cord injuries. In 1960, Italian Antonio Maglio took the competition to Rome and outside the UK for the first time. It coincided with the Rome Olympic Games and is considered the First Paralympic Games. In 2024, France will host the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 4 September.