Why is French the official language of the Olympics?

About this episode

It may seem surprising that French is the official language of the Olympic Games, given that it’s ‘only’ the 5th most spoken language in the world. According to a report by the International Francophone Organisation in 2022, there are an estimated 321 million French speakers in the world, putting it behind Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin, and English. Nevertheless, the French language has played a significant role at a global level, and in various spheres, since the Middle Ages. Let's explore the importance it’s taken on since the modern Olympic Games were established in 1896. Did France play any role in creating the Olympics? Is that the only reason? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: How long do I have to wait to swim after eating? What are the world's least safe travel destinations? Why do we get travel sick? A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices