olympic (language) question.

[tino2479]

ive noticed all the "in house" compairs/commentators for every event intoduce the athletes and announce the winners in french first then english. is french the official olympic language ? or is there another reason?

[Use Psychology]

it's a carefully calculated insult to the uk.

oh wait, no, it's the official language of the ioc

[bigandclever]

Both French and English are the official Olympic languages. If the Olympics are held in a non-French and non-English speaking country, the announcements are also made in that country's official language. French is in there because the IOC was founded by a Frenchman, Pierre de Fredy. English is in there because they ain't daft.

[Eric Mc]

This question was raised umpteen times - often in a very angry and aggressive way - by quite a few PHers after the opening ceremony.

The modern Olympic Movement was established by Baron De Coubertin, a Frenchman - and it's in recognition of him that French is used.

[DrTre]

Eric Mc said:

This question was raised umpteen times - often in a very angry and aggressive way - by quite a few PHers

Quelle surprise...

So it's a broadly similar reason to Jeux Sans Frontieres?

[Eric Mc]

DrTre said:

Eric Mc said:

This question was raised umpteen times - often in a very angry and aggressive way - by quite a few PHers

Quelle surprise...

So it's a broadly similar reason to Jeux Sans Frontieres?

Only we seem to be better at Olympics - at the moment.

Frenchmen started quite a few international sporting movements. The World Cup was the idea of Jules Rimet - Formula 1 was a French idea too. All aviation and land speed record are logged by French based organisations.

The Schneider Trophy for raciong seaplanes was also set up by a French man.

[Randy Winkman]

OK - French is the official language of the IOC - but can anyone actually answer the question about the French announcements? What's the point?