They had one goal: to take enough medals to be among the Games’ top five Olympic and top eight Paralympic nations. He was putting pressure on them, he said this month – previously described as “healthy pressure” – but the goal was “absolutely attainable”. The economics magazine Challenges reported Macron as going further, saying: “The success of these Olympic Games depends first and foremost on the success of our athletes.”
It was the French president in full Jupiterian mode – his nickname is the all-powerful, all-controlling Roman god – suggesting that, in sport as in politics, almost anything is possible with enough effort. The subtext was clear: it was not enough for the nation’s Olympians to be taking part; what would count was winning.
Sceptics pointed out that France had not reached the medals table top five since the 1948 London Olympics when it came third, but at a time when there were fewer top-level sporting nations. The sports data firm Gracenote backed Macron and predicted France would enjoy the traditional advantage of hosting the Games and take 55 medals, reaching fourth place.
Political pundits saw the national “how-many-medals” guessing game Macron had sparked as part of an Élysée operation to inject much-needed interest into the Olympics among a public that has, until now, been at best apathetic, at worst hostile.
この記事は The Guardian Weekly の April 26, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Guardian Weekly の April 26, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Secrets Of The World's Most Trusting Country
In Danish society, people feel safe enough to leave their babies and bikes out on the street. How did they get to this point?
Ukraine Can Recover With Bolder Support - But Now It's On The Ropes
The mood in Ukraine is sombre these days.
Stark Warning ICJ Ruling Is Third Blow In A Week For Israel As Isolation Grows
The provisional measures issued by the international court of justice (ICJ) ordering an immediate halt to Israel's military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah represent the starkest warning yet to Israel that its offensive risks creating conditions that could be framed as potentially genocidal.
Why I Took To Cannes' Red Carpet To Call Out Sexual Violence
The 77th Cannes film festival reached its climax on Saturday when all eyes were on the Croisette, as the winners of the prestigious Palme d'Or were announced.
From mains to a sweet treat, how to serve up a thrill from the grill
If you don't have a kamado-style barbecue, what interesting things can you make on a simple grill?
Points of origin
Two takes on Covid's early days-one aimed at academics, the other a 'documentary novel' that mixes fiction and fact to powerful effect
Life after lava
Icelanders are famously hardy, but after a series of volcanic eruptions set houses alight and opened up 20-metre-deep fissures in Grindavík, the fishing town near the famous Blue Lagoon, residents are asking if they'll ever be allowed back home
How Church of England's slavery ties went to top of hierarchy
An archbishop of Canterbury in the 18th century approved payments for the purchase of enslaved people for two sugar plantations in Barbados, documents seen by the Observer have revealed.
Easter Island monoliths face up to new climate extremes
The Ahu Tahai moai, on the east side of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is an impressive 4.5 metres high.
'Not our president': Kanak call on Macron for fair deal
I don't know why our fate is being discussed by people who don't even live here.