Visons l’or ! (Go for gold!)
Are you a French language learner and a sports lover? The perfect opportunity to shoot for the stars with your conversations awaits you.
Soon, the 2024 Olympic Games will take place in none other than Paris, France.
That said, are you hoping to:
enhance your conversation abilities?
expand your vocabulary?
properly immerse yourself in the excitement of this monumental event?
If so, then, fantastic! Use this chance to dive right into the thrilling world of international sports. This is where you can brush up on your skills and discover valuable cultural insights.
What makes this such an excellent way to develop your language abilities?
You might be watching the Olympics from home with other French students. Maybe you’re lucky enough to be visiting in person. Either way, this is a unique time to practice your French. Firstly, because everyone is talking about it right now. And, secondly, it offers boundless possibilities to start a French conversation. You’ll have even more opportunities when you understand some of the cultural aspects of the event.
Take home a true piece of Paris
Besides gold, silver, and bronze medals, Olympic contestants can expect to receive some iron. But it’s not just any iron. Each contestant who receives a medal at the games will receive a piece of the Eiffel Tower itself. How’s that for a bit of unique je ne sais quoi?
This year's medals were all stamped with an iron hexagon. Notably, it's the same iron used to build this iconic French landmark. The Olympic Games collaborated with jewelry house Chaumet to produce the design. The hexagon represents the country's geographical shape. At the same time, the gesture highlights the connection between the Games and the city of Paris.
“We wanted this medal to be beautiful, we wanted it to be symbolic. And what is more symbolic than bringing back home a piece of France’s heritage,” said Martin Fourcade, a five-time Olympic champion who also is president of the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Commission.
A total of 5,084 gold, silver, and bronze medals will be produced for this year’s games. Each will be minted in the heart of Paris, by the Monnaie de Paris.
According to a New York Times article, each hexagon is stamped with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic Games logo. Surrounding the hexagons are ridges of radiating lines designed to reflect light. The 2024 Games take place in the City of Lights, after all.Will the Seine be fit for la natation?
Since 1923, the Seine River’s water quality has been so poor that swimming in it has been illegal. Still, enormous efforts are being made to ensure the quality improves.
That’s because the Seine is meant to be the venue for the Olympic swimming events. The New York Times reports that the city spent over $1.5 billion on infrastructure to keep the river clean. French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo are consistently involved. They have both dedicated plenty of energy and time to this endeavor. The two leaders have also said they plan on swimming in the river to prove its cleanliness.
That said, recent tests show there are still dangerous levels of harmful bacteria. Results reveal the presence of E. coli and enterococci (you know, merde). Recent heavy rainfall caused street runoff and fecal matter to flow back into the river. This made it—once again—unfit for a dip.
Now, officials hope the weather will hold closer to the event. There is no Plan B at the moment. The only other options? Postponing the swimming events until the river is clean again or turning the triathlon event into a duathlon—only running and cycling.
Clearly, something to follow if swimming is your passion!
French vocabulary related to the Olympics
To help you get started, here are some useful French vocabulary words related to the Olympics.
| French word/phrase | English translation |
|---|---|
| Les Jeux Olympiques (French people say les JO, for short) | The Olympic Games |
| La médaille d’or | Gold medal |
| La médaille d’argent | Silver medal |
| La médaille de bronze | Bronze medal |
| Le nouveau record | New record |
| Hexagone de fer | Iron hexagon |
| Tour Eiffel | Eiffel Tower |
| La Seine | The Seine (river) |
| Le drapeau | Flag |
| La cérémonie d'ouverture | Opening ceremony |
| Les Jeux Paralympiques | The Paralympic Games |
| Les sièges | Seats |
| Épreuve sportive | Sports event |
| Entraineur | Trainer |
| L’athlète | Athlete |
| Le football | Soccer |
| Le tennis | Tennis |
| La natation | Swimming |
| Le surf | Surfing |
| L'équipe nationale | National team |
| Le stade | Stadium |
| La flamme olympique | Olympic flame |
Sentences for talking about the Olympic Games
Let’s take a look at a few phrases to see how you’d use them in a sentence.
| French sentence | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tiens ! De la natation dans la Seine ! | Imagine! Swimming in the Seine! |
| Vous attendez avec impatience les JO de 2024 à Paris ? | Are you looking forward to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris? |
| Saviez-vous que l’épreuve de surf sera à Tahiti ? | Did you know that the surfing is happening in Tahiti? |
| Quelle est ton épreuve sportive préférée aux JO ? | What is your favorite sport at the Olympic Games? |
| Connais-tu un(e) athlète français(e) qui participera aux JO ? | Do you know a French athlete who will compete in the Olympic Games? |
| Pouvez-vous le croire ? Elle a remporté l’épreuve ! | Can you believe it? She won the event! |
| Êtes-vous déjà allé aux JO ? | Have you been to the Olympic Games before? |
| Je crois qu’il y a cinq nouveaux sports : le breaking, le skateboard, l’escalade sportive, le surf, et le basketball 3x3. | I believe there are five new sports for these Olympics: breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and 3x3 basketball. |
| Connaissez-vous quelqu’un qui va participer aux JO ? | Do you know anyone competing in the Olympics? |
| Super! Un nouveau record ! | Wow! A new record! |
| Êtes-vous déjà allé en France ? | Have you visited France before? |
| Êtes-vous vous-même un(e) athlète ? | Are you an athlete yourself? |
Conclusion
How are you feeling? Are you keen to make the most of this momentous event for your French language journey? Are you ready to become that fluent French speaker you’ve always wanted to be?
Allez, tout le monde !
Get ready to be awed by incredible feats of athleticism! Be engulfed by the charm of the Olympic spirit, and immersed in the vibrant culture of France. Let's start the countdown to this unforgettable celebration of sports and unity!
