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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Thomas Adamson

Here’s why the Olympics have a French connection (and it ain’t just Paris 2024)

Pierre de Coubertin Olympics Paris Olympics Adolf Hitler France Greece Thomas Bach The Associated Press
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Ever wondered why French is spoken during medal announcements at the Olympic Games? The truth is that while the ancient Olympics originated in Greece, its modern incarnation is very much a French affair.

The Games were revived in the 1890s by a French nobleman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who now holds a questionable legacy. As Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympics, 100 years since it last held them, here's why so much about the modern Olympics is fundamentally French.

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