French Conversation – August 2024

Five members of the group met on August 1st. Our topic of conversation was appropriately, the Paris Olympics. We offered our opinions on the opening ceremony, and the events we had enjoyed watching.

The consensus of opinion was that the opening ceremony was ambitious and original in its conception but felt over long and somewhat disjointed due to the performances being in diverse locations. The lack of a single venue was perhaps partly due to a fear of terrorism. The idea of having the procession on the Seine was good in that it allowed the general public to have the chance to view the spectacle, rather than only those fortunate enough to have a seat in the stadium. Undoubtedly the terrible weather marred the occasion, but the ceremony did highlight the wonderful landmarks that make Paris so special. The lightshow at the Eiffel Tower, the inclusive relay of the Olympic Torch and the amazing spectacle of the Olympic flame in a hot air balloon were memorable. We also loved Celine Dion’s remarkable performance – what an amazing voice!

Everyone had enjoyed watching the synchronized diving, and the gymnastics were also popular, both events involving both physical skill and an element of artistry. One member found the thrills and spills of the canoe slalom compulsive viewing, as were the men’s triathlon and men’s mountain biking with their nail-biting finishes resulting in GB gold medals.  Also outstanding were the performances of Leon Marchand in the swimming events.

One member reported that a French friend of hers had expressed the view that with so much poverty in the world, the money spent on the Olympic games cannot be justified and they should be abolished. Whilst there was some sympathy for this point of view, the point was made that the games did bring tourist income to the host country, compensating for the massive expenditure, and that many of the sporting facilities are retained as a permanent legacy. It would also seem a pity to abolish an event which brings countries of the world together in a spirit of friendly competition.

Finally, the subject of the intense pressure that young competitors are put under was raised. One member cited the example of Nadia Comaneci who had enormous success as a young gymnast, but suffered physically as a result in later life. She suggested that the parents of athletes put excessive pressure on their children, forcing them to sacrifice their childhood and possibly storing up physical and psychological problems in the future. Whilst this is a danger to be considered, others were less convinced that parents can force their children to make the sacrifices that competitive sport requires unless they are willing themselves.

As most of the group were unable to attend, we decided to cancel the second meeting of the month.

Lynne Vick