Official language of the London Olympics - French?!
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
The modern Olympics were invented by the French so French has always been the prime language of the organisation.
A pity they don't hold the olympics in France and be done with it then. But to be honest, I really don't care, I don't watch it anyway, but it does seem strange nevertheless.
Pesty said:
Eric Mc said:
The modern Olympics were invented by the French so French has always been the prime language of the organisation.
Wait what?thought it was some bloke in Much wenlock that started it all up again. One of the reasons that a mascot is called wenlock.
Shropshire village of Much Wenlock
Its games more than 100 years ago inspired Frenchman Baron de Coubertin to found the modern Olympics
he just copied us
Edited by Pesty on Thursday 9th December 17:13
In fact, can you name any sports world governing body that is based in the UK - even for sports invented by the Brits?
Eric Mc said:
And now list the sporting and competition regulators based outside the UK. I'll start -
FIA - motor sport
FIFA - soccer
UEFA - soccer
FAI - aviation records
Olympics - the Olympics
Cricket - Dubai
Badminton - Denmark
Rugby Union - Ireland
Fascinating. What's your point Eric, that companies will locate themselves in low tax locations? Certainly was the case for Cricket. FIA - motor sport
FIFA - soccer
UEFA - soccer
FAI - aviation records
Olympics - the Olympics
Cricket - Dubai
Badminton - Denmark
Rugby Union - Ireland
And in bold - what?
Bing o said:
Eric Mc said:
And now list the sporting and competition regulators based outside the UK. I'll start -
FIA - motor sport
FIFA - soccer
UEFA - soccer
FAI - aviation records
Olympics - the Olympics
Cricket - Dubai
Badminton - Denmark
Rugby Union - Ireland
Fascinating. What's your point Eric, that companies will locate themselves in low tax locations? Certainly was the case for Cricket. FIA - motor sport
FIFA - soccer
UEFA - soccer
FAI - aviation records
Olympics - the Olympics
Cricket - Dubai
Badminton - Denmark
Rugby Union - Ireland
And in bold - what?
I was just empahsising that many of the sports that were "invented", or at least, codified, in Britain in the late 1800s (mostly) ended up with their world governing bodies based outside of Britain. Why is this?
My theory is that Britain more or less pursued an "isolationist" sporting policy in the years right up to the Second World War. For example, none of the British Isles international soccer teams took part in any of the pre-war FIFA World Cups.
Often, it was the French who took the lead and set up what they considered to be the World Body for a particular sport or record breaking activity. As a result, when Britain decided to be more "internationalist" in its sporting outlook post World War 2, it had missed the boat regarding being as influential as it should have been - especially given the fact that many of the basic rules of many of these sports had been invented here.
I am pretty convinced that FIFA's negative atitude to Rngland in particular stems from their perception (however misguided it may be) that England has an arrogant atitude and holds FIFA in low regard.
Eric Mc said:
I am pretty convinced that FIFA's negative atitude to England in particular stems from their perception (however misguided it may be) that England has an arrogant atitude and holds FIFA in low regard.
I think you are very wrong.It is no way misguided, England really do hold FIFA in low regard.
elster said:
Eric Mc said:
I am pretty convinced that FIFA's negative atitude to England in particular stems from their perception (however misguided it may be) that England has an arrogant atitude and holds FIFA in low regard.
I think you are very wrong.It is no way misguided, England really do hold FIFA in low regard.
eldar said:
Dave Angel said:
dirkgently said:
When the final bill comes in the language of the London Olympics may well be Angelo Saxon.
The famous German boxing promotor? 
THAT'S HER!!!
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