When we speak of the upcoming Olympic Games of 2024 in Paris, we often talk about the economic advantages and disadvantages, and sometimes the cultural influence; but these are not the only effects.
Olympics can have a positive impact on relations between countries. It is one of their first aims. They promote peace in the world –the United Nations recognizes the contribution of sports in development and peace in an event where people from around the world share their sport passion. As they show a collaboration between countries, sometimes some decided to boycott the Olympic Games in countries in bad terms. However this situation have not happened since the Olympic Games of Seoul, in 1988.
We can predict other positive effects of the Olympic Games, especially for France, the host country. Like others sport events, Olympic Games can create a social interaction. The nation is represented by a team and people are brought together. In France 1998 football world cup is often described like this. As many players were from foreign backgrounds, this case became a symbol of fraternity between communities.
The Olympic Games also show sports and increase their popularity. We can observe when a country has sport stars many children or young people start to practice their sports. It is important to induce people to do sport as it is useful for health. Sport further is often part of education. Olympic Games also tries to share sportive values such as friendship, solidarity and respect.
But aren’t there some negatives of this in modern professional sport? Some athletes show a non-sportive state of mind by being disrespectful to their opponents or the referees some also take doping substances. I think despite some faults sport and Olympics share a good state of mind with an important impact on the host country.
Pierre-Antoine SEMENERI
Olympics 2024 