100 days, 100 years, 100% Sport : Les Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques 2024 for expats living in France

How France's Passion for Sports Shines on the "Jeux Olympiques" (Olympic Games) 2024 ?

Credit image : euronews

Exactly 100 years ago, France hosted the Summer Olympics.

Today, we are 100 days away from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a century later, ready to relive the Olympic flame that burns in the heart of every athlete and spectator.

The Olympic Games are much more than a simple sports competition. They represent unity, friendship, excellence and respect. These fundamental values are shared by UpYourFrench, where we encourage unity in diversity, friendship between different cultures and excellence in learning the French language.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will mark "une parité parfaite" (a perfect parity) between male and female athletes. For the first time in the history of the Games, there will be as many women's events as men's events, a true symbol of equality and inclusion.

As an expat living in France, you have the chance to experience the Olympics in a unique opportunity.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will kick off with a spectacular opening ceremony (la cérémonie d'ouverture).

Get ready for an epic Olympic ceremony like never before! For the first time ever, Paris 2024 is taking the opening ceremony out of the stadium and onto the Seine river.

Even if you are an expat living in France, you may not yet know Paris.

If you're not familiar with Paris, the Seine is the famous river that runs through the heart of the city, with iconic landmarks like la tour Eiffel, la cathédrale Notre-Dame, and le musée du Louvre lining its banks.

10,500 athletes sailing past these stunning sights on special boats equipped with cameras, so you won't miss a thing.

Some area are free and open to the public, with room for 600,000 spectators along the riverbanks. With giant screens (des écrans géants) and sound systems set up throughout the city, you'll feel like you're part of the action no matter where you are.

And if you're wondering about getting around Paris during the Olympics, don't worry - the city is known for its extensive public transportation system, including the Metro, buses, and trams. I'm joking!

If you want to visit Paris and you're not interested in the Olympic Games, it will be the worst time to go, as it will be the most expensive and complicated period for visiting.

Anyway,many of the Olympic events will be held in and around Paris, if you decide to go, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the city between competitions. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or just love soaking up the local culture, Paris has something for everyone.

 In addition to Paris, several other French cities will also participate in the Olympic Games by offering their spaces for competitions. Marseille will host the sailing events, while Tahiti will host the surfing events. Other cities such as Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nantes will also host football matches. This will allow spectators to discover different regions of France and enjoy the diversity of its landscapes and culture.

image Franceinfo

However, the Olympic Games are not without controversy. The money spent on organizing the Games is often criticized, with some feeling that these funds could be used for more useful purposes. In addition, the high salaries of some professional athletes can be perceived as unfair compared to amateur athletes who struggle to make ends meet. The Olympic Games can also cause inconvenience to the local population, such as traffic congestion and rising housing prices.

Finally, pollution related to temporary facilities and travel by athletes, delegations and spectators is a major concern for the environment. Should I talk about the surf competition in Thaiti?

100 years ago, the Paris Olympics have always been the scene of memorable moments. In 1924, the Finnish Paavo Nurmi, nicknamed the "Finnish Phenomenon", won five gold medals in athletics, a record that still stands (Source: International Olympic Committee). In 1900, during the first modern Olympic Games in Paris, the Frenchwoman Charlotte Cooper became the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in tennis (Source: BBC Sport).

I am really exceted to follow this edition.

Finally, let's take advantage of this sporting event to review our French!

When talking about sports, we generally use "faire de" for sports and "jouer à " for sports with a ball. For example, we say "Je fais de la natation" but "Je joue au football".

Also, be careful with the use of the prepositions "de" and "à". We say "faire de l'athlétisme" but "faire du vélo", "jouer à la pétanque" but "jouer au tennis".

Let's not forget the contraction with the definite article: "le" or "les"

Les activités sportives en français :

avec la préposition à :

• à + le => au à + les => aux

• à + la => à la

• à + l' => à l'

avec la préposition de :

• de + le => du

• de + les => des

• de + la => de la

• de + l' => de l'

As I excitedly delve into everything about the Paris Olympics 2024, there's one aspect I simply can't overlook - the official mascot! Imagine this: the Olympic Phryg, a fun and unique tribute to tradition, liberty, and the French Republic. Dressed in the iconic tricolors of blue, white, and red, and sporting that dazzling gold Paris 2024 logo. Let's get to see this awesome character a little better! You like ? You don't like ? let me know in comment.

Credit Image Reddit.com

So, dear expatriate friends, join us to celebrate these 100 days before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 100 years after the 1924 Games.

Together, let's share our passion for sport and the French language, while being aware of the social and environmental issues related to the Olympic Games.