[Originally published July 2024, updated July 2025]
[Disclosure: If you make a purchase using the affiliate link below, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, views expressed are my own.]
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were held from July 26 through August 11. The Paralympic Games were held August 28 through September 8, 2024.
My absolute favorite Olympic event is the Parade of Nations, which takes place during the Opening Ceremony.
I love seeing the flags! I love watching the artistic program that showcases the host country’s cultural identity and history! I love how the countries’ names are announced in three languages: French, English, and the host country’s language.
Why French? French historian and educator, Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, organized the first games of the modern era in 1896, and made French and English the official languages of the Olympics.
As for athletic events, I look forward to watching women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics, swimming, equestrian, fencing, as well as the new events, like breaking (breakdancing) and kayak cross.
I’ll tune in to watch Mitchell Saron of Team USA (fencing – men’s saber), Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela (triple jump), Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines (weightlifting), Maxine Esteban (who transferred from the Philippines to represent Côte d’Ivoire in fencing), and Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland (men’s artistic gymnastics), to name a few.
Get in the spirit of the Olympic Games
The Olympic and Paralympic Games aim to unite the world (if only for a couple of weeks) in a positive way by celebrating teamwork, human resilience, and triumph over challenges. That’s an ideal worth celebrating! So even if you’re not really into sports, you can get in the spirit of the Olympic Games. Here are three fun ideas to try:
- Enjoy delicious snacks. In round bowls, serve foods in the colors of the five Olympic rings, for example: blue (blueberries); black (mini Oreo cookies); red (raspberries); yellow (pineapple chunks); and green (grapes)
- Learn more about the countries of the world. As each country is announced during the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony, locate the country on a map, globe, or The World Almanac and Book of Facts (my favorite book when I was a kid, by the way)
- Get crafty. Make your own Phrygian cap, or the French liberty cap. It’s also the inspiration for the Phryge, the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympics. There are dozens of videos online showing how easy it is to make them using paper or yarn
Speaking of the mascot, I bought my own plush Phryge mascot through US-based French Wink (this is an affiliate link).
As a Francophile, I’m happy I get to do some armchair traveling to France and French overseas territories for the next 17 days! Imagine: virtually visiting Versailles (for equestrian), Lille (handball), Bordeaux (football), Marseille (sailing), and Teahupo’o on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia (surfing)!
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[Updated July 2025]
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Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
Get the Games begin, allez!
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