The Olympic Games have a significant historical and contemporary connection with France.
The modern Olympic Games were founded by Pierre de Coubertin, a French teacher. He played a pivotal role in reviving the ancient Olympic tradition and establishing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and designing the Olympic Flag. This is the reason why French is one of the official languages of the Olympic Games.
In our Kindy and French classes, the Paris 2024 emblem and mascots have served as focal points for discussions about French culture, history and values, and to further develop cross-cultural understanding.
The emblem for Paris 2024 is a powerful symbol that combines three iconic elements:
The Gold Medal: The circular shape represents a gold medal, embodying the pursuit of excellence and the athletes' dreams of victory.
The Flame: At the centre of the emblem is a stylized flame, symbolizing the Olympic flame that has been a beacon of hope and unity since ancient times.
Marianne: The face within the emblem is that of Marianne, a national symbol of the French Republic, which represents liberty, equality, and fraternity, the core values of France.
The mascots for Paris 2024 are the Phryges, named after the Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom and the French Revolution.
I encourage you to explore these symbols with your children at home, discussing their meanings and what they represent. This will not only reinforce their learning but also help them connect with the global community and the Paris 2024 Games.
Mrs Viviana Morris
Junior School Languages Teacher
