Did you know that angling was an Olympic sport a few decades ago? Why the Games are held every four years? Or that the Stade Yves-du-Manoir is the only French Olympic venue to see two Olympiads? Here are a few unusual and sometimes amusing anecdotes that give us a new perspective on the Olympic and Paralympic Games! Since the creation of the modern Games by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, Olympism has changed a great deal, adapting to society and evolving with the times.
And the capital has been lucky enough to host the Olympic Games three times, in 1900, 1924 and 2024, so there's plenty of fascinating information to be found here that history has sometimes forgotten. While Parisians may not be thrilled with the Olympics because of the many constraints they face, we mustn't forget that France was the birthplace of the Games, and that our athletes have been linked to them from the outset.
To bring back your science when talking about the Games and impress your friends and family with your knowledge, a few anecdotes are always useful and offer a fresh perspective on this timeless international competition that's set to liven up our Parisian summer! So, did you know?
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: where does the term "Paralympic" come from?
Paralympic athletes from all over the world are currently competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. But by the way, where does this term come from? [Read more]
2024 Paralympics: why aren't the deaf and hard of hearing taking part in the Games?
The Paralympic Games welcome artists with all kinds of disabilities, but not the deaf or hard of hearing. Why can't they take part in this sporting event? [Read more]
Paris 2024: do you know the Agitos, symbols of the Paralympic Games, and what they mean?
Three large commas in red, green and blue: this symbol of the Paralympic Games adorns the Arc de Triomphe on the eve of the start of the Games. But do you know its history and meaning? [Read more]
Did you know that the Paralympic flame always starts in England? Here's its history.
Unlike its Olympic cousin, the Paralympic flame does not originate in Greece, but in England. Discover its history, which began in 1948. [Read more]
Paris hosts the Paralympic Games for the first time! History of the Games
While the capital has hosted the Olympic Games three times, including 2024, this is the very first time in history that the Paralympic Games will be held in France! [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: France's medal record officially surpassed!
France regularly ranks in the top 10 nations at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The country needed 43 medals to break its record, and now it's done! [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympics: the bell rung at the Stade de France will move to Notre-Dame Cathedral
During these Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in the heart of the Stade de France, a bell rings out every time an athlete wins. This bell will join Notre-Dame Cathedral at the end of the Paralympic Games! [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympics: why are there no soccer champions on the Olympic team?
The events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are coming thick and fast, and French athletes aren't skimping on victories. But on the soccer side, one question remains: why do we never see a soccer superstar on the Olympic teams? [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympics: why are judo kimonos white or blue?
If you're closely following the judo bouts at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, then you've certainly noticed this detail. On the tatami, only two colors exist for the kimono worn by the athletes. It's either white or blue. So, why is that? We explain. [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympics: why do some swimmers wear a down jacket before the race?
If you follow swimming events, then this detail has surely jumped out at you. Before the start of each race in the pool, many athletes arrive bundled up in a long down jacket. But why? We'll explain. [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympics: in the Olympic Vasque, a fuel-free, greener flame
The Olympic flame shines brightly over Paris, comfortably installed in its cauldron - a hot-air balloon created especially for the occasion. But this flame is not like the others... We explain. [Read more]
Paris 2024: what remains of the last Olympic Games held in the capital in 1924?
100 years later, the Olympic Games will return to Paris in 2024. In 1924, several venues were built to accommodate the competition, but what remains of them today? [Read more]
Paris 2024: history and origins of the Olympic Games, from Antiquity to the present day
As Paris hosts the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games from July 26 to September 8, 2024, do you know the history and origins of the famous Olympics? We tell you. [Read more]
Olympics 2024: tug-of-war, motorboating...These sports that have disappeared from the Olympic program
From the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, to the next edition, in the French capital in 2024, the world's greatest sporting competition has come a long way, evolved, changed... And so has the Olympic program, with new disciplines appearing and others no longer included in the Games program. [Read more]
Olympic Games 2024: 4 anecdotes to know about this international sporting event
In the 128 years of its existence, the modern Olympic Games have been the scene of some curious stories. Discover some original anecdotes about the Olympics. [Read more]
Paris 2024: why is French the official language of the Olympic Games?
Even though next year's Olympic Games will be held in France, it's customary to hear French spoken since the inception of the modern Games. But do you know why it's the official language of the competition? [Read more]
Paris Olympic Games: what will the Olympic villages become after the Games?
Major works are conducted here and there in Paris and Île-de-France: Olympic villages rise in the Île-de-France area to house the upcoming athletes for Paris 2024. But what will these constructions become after the Olympic Games? [Read more]
