Paris Olympics 2024: ‘Play not to win, but to participate…’

In a first the opening ceremony on Friday July 26 was not staged inside an Olympic stadium Along the river Seine the iconic opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 created history Spectators lined the banks of Seine as athletes floated in on boats and the ceremonymdashhosted in the heart of Parismdashoffered several vantage points to residents keen on watching the event even without a ticket The cityrsquos most popular landmarks and under bridges and gateways including Pont des Arts and Pont Neufmdasheverything was part of the showWhile this move by the organisers will be remembered it was also anticipated that France would play host in the most celebrated fashion After all the modern Olympic games are rooted in the countryrsquos historyBaron Pierre de Coubertin who was a French educator and historian introduced sport in French education Itrsquos thanks to him that the games were revived and he came to be known as the father of the modern Olympic Games Pic CourtesyIOCBaron Pierre de Coubertin was a French educator and historian who introduced sport in French education Itrsquos thanks to him that the games were revived and naturally he came to be known as the father of the modern Olympic Games Apart from championing sports serving as the second president of the International Olympic Committee IOC Coubertin also designed the Olympic Rings in 1913 He wrote that the ldquofive rings represent the five parts of the world now won over to Olympismrdquo and that the five colours along on the white background produced the colours of every countryrsquos flag So much was Coubertinrsquos love for the games that as per his wishes expressed in his will upon his death his heart was taken to Olympia and placed in a marble stele commemorating the revival of the Olympic GamesOlympism is thus integral to the French ldquoCoubertin is quite a popular figure I donrsquot know if he said this but we are always told that he used to say lsquoPlay not to win but to participatersquo Thatrsquos why the Olympic Games are a very special moment for the French Itrsquos not like any other world championshiprdquo says JeanMarc SeacutereacuteCharlet French Consul General in MumbaiThe Paris Olympics MascotThe Olympic rings which symbolise how the games bring the world together are of deep value in present times Coubertin had once proclaimed ldquoWars break out because nations misunderstand each other We shall not have peace until the prejudices that now separate the different races are outlived To attain this end what better means is there than to bring the youth of all countries periodically together for amicable trials of muscular strength and agilityrdquoSeacutereacuteCharlet says that in present times the values of Olympism and what Coubertin promoted is even more crucial ldquoTogetherness is part of the Olympic slogan Whether itrsquos the Olympics or the paralympics this is a part of our values Itrsquos why inclusivity and sustainable impact are regarded highly in this yearrsquos gamesrdquo he addsSteacutephane Doutrelant and JeanMarc SeacutereacuteCharletAs Coubertin brought education reform by making sport important for students his efforts still echo Stephane Doutrelant executive director Alliance Franccedilaise de Bombay says ldquoFor a country of 68 million people sports are of course important But they are also very much a part of our educationrdquo The French believe that to be well balanced you need to have a good mind and be in good shape The Ministry of Sport the highest governing body of sport in France has an annual funding amounting to nearly 442 billionAs a showcase of the French commitment to sports and of course to cheer their home country playing hosts Doutrelant is most excited He has organised a small exhibit at Alliance Franccedilaise which celebrates the games with fascinating facts about the science of sports You will spot explanations for why you bend your arms while running ldquoitrsquos quite interesting I have learnt so much just reading thisrdquo he says Plushies of the Paris Olympics 2024 mascot Monsieur Phryge also sit at the organisationrsquos branches in Mumbai At their new space in Churchgate Chambers a classroom has been dedicated to the Olympic Games where members can enjoy a screening while playing table tennis and foosballAs the event has been organised in Paris and around Doutrelant highlights that the games are also promoting sustainability in every way ldquoItrsquos an incredible feat to see an opening ceremony on the banks of a river But there is a major stress on being ecofriendly The athletesrsquo village is using an underground watercooling system instead of air conditionersrdquo he says This decision came as the organising committeersquos goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of the Paris Games by half On Thursday July 25 a day ahead of the opening ceremony the French government and the US National Basketball Association NBA made a joint commitment to make sport meet sustainable development goals Francersquos president Emmanuel Macron said that the French Development Agency AFD will invest 543 million to make sport meet those sustainable development goalsBut which games are these Frenchmen in Mumbai most excited about ldquoIrsquom most interested to see rugby sevens as I used to play rugby Francersquos judo team does well but the Japanese always give us a tough fight I am waiting to see Keven Mayer our decathlon athlete and also excited to see how the Indian champion Neeraj Chopra performsrdquo says SeacutereacuteCharletNew Sports at Paris Olympics 2024Sport climbing An indoor rockclimbing competition with a 49foot inverted wall that athletes have to scale in six minutes It has three different events which will see athletes scaling a route they havenrsquot seen beforehandSkateboarding A total of 44 men and women will compete in two disciplines park and street skateboarding They will be judged on degree of difficulty speed and range of movesSurfing After advocating the addition of the sport in 1920 surfing has now been added to the lineup and will see 48 athletes Athletes have to ride the famous Teahoporsquoo wave in Tahiti to impress judges with their tricksrsquo variety type and difficulty in addition to their speed power and flow