What should be the International Olympic Committee's official language policy?
- Thread starter Machjo
- Start date
Other than English, the two most widely spoken languages used at the coast are Hindi and Chinese, not French.
That is a sensible solution but it's boring. People would lose interest after one or two years only and the Olympians would have little more than their own families attending.
I think I heard a sensible response to the "French first" thing tonight. Kind of like when the Anthem is sung at a hockey game. The end of it gets drowned out. If English was first, and French second, then no one would have heard it in French - the cheering for the opening would have begun and the French would have been drowned out. Oh I know that some of you are going to say that's great but it isn't. We are a bi-lingual country and we must respect that. If some of the people in Quebec don't respect that and the government there is so small minded as to refuse to allow signs etc. in English - then - good on us. We are the better/bigger part of the part of the country for it, even if we are not as large in population.
No I didn't vote, there was no place for English only. Airlines around the world use the English language Olympics should do the same. As for the games, there should
be a Summer Games somewhere, but where? The Winter same thing as long as it's
not here. I hope we never see another overpriced spectacle on our soil.
The bloody games are a financial disaster and the preparation is lousy, the snow
isn't there and the event should have been held some where else in this province
not at the bowl. Wait till we wake up to the fact we have billions to pay with nothing
to show for it. Who cares what language they use? I think if this is the best we could
do we should all just be quiet. The world thinks we are incompetent.
be a Summer Games somewhere, but where? The Winter same thing as long as it's
not here. I hope we never see another overpriced spectacle on our soil.
The bloody games are a financial disaster and the preparation is lousy, the snow
isn't there and the event should have been held some where else in this province
not at the bowl. Wait till we wake up to the fact we have billions to pay with nothing
to show for it. Who cares what language they use? I think if this is the best we could
do we should all just be quiet. The world thinks we are incompetent.
"No I didn't vote, there was no place for English only"- I made that point subtly in post 40 but it obviously went right over one poster's head. In Canada we have 13 geographical divisions, French is predominant in one of them so the very most consideration French should get is 1/13 or a little less than 8%. I was back in Quebec in '67- they are a little too pushy for my liking.
I voted for whatever languages the IOC decides
I wonder how the people of Greece feel about language choices? Most nations aren't favored by attending in person and rely on television to show them the games - and the national language would be the predominant one for the viewers
anyway...
I wanted to add that sometimes no language is needed to see the sweet smiles, the great fist pumps of success, the tears of error and loss, and the brave courage of the athletes right before they begin their historical journey into each event ....
The adrenline must be as thick as the fog there.
I would like to say B.C. has done a beautiful job with the venues in spite of that old weather which is so much a part of the outdoor venues, but fog, rain, sleet, nothing can dampen the spirits I see on the faces of the crowds....
It is one of the most professional Olympics I can remember and I hope Canadians are proudly taking their share of the congratulations.... for a job well done!
I will be sad to see it over.....it is wonderful watching all the nations joined together in peace and competition instead of shooting and violence. One of my favorite things to see is the athletes exchanging mementos of their home nation with the other athletes....
I hope some day we can all live in a world like the games present to us ...
Curio
I wonder how the people of Greece feel about language choices? Most nations aren't favored by attending in person and rely on television to show them the games - and the national language would be the predominant one for the viewers
anyway...
I wanted to add that sometimes no language is needed to see the sweet smiles, the great fist pumps of success, the tears of error and loss, and the brave courage of the athletes right before they begin their historical journey into each event ....
The adrenline must be as thick as the fog there.
I would like to say B.C. has done a beautiful job with the venues in spite of that old weather which is so much a part of the outdoor venues, but fog, rain, sleet, nothing can dampen the spirits I see on the faces of the crowds....
It is one of the most professional Olympics I can remember and I hope Canadians are proudly taking their share of the congratulations.... for a job well done!
I will be sad to see it over.....it is wonderful watching all the nations joined together in peace and competition instead of shooting and violence. One of my favorite things to see is the athletes exchanging mementos of their home nation with the other athletes....
I hope some day we can all live in a world like the games present to us ...
Curio
Shooting and violence are the fundamentals of competition. We most certainly already live in a meaningless world like the Olympics present to us. No where can monumental waste be observed as at the Olympics, if a fraction of that sweat was appointed to constructive cooperative exercise we would surely prosper as humans. As it is it represents nothing more than the martial qualities that are responsible for discord and envy. It is this enchantment in the crust of life that prevents us from sampling the filling.
Coming from a Franco-Albertan family, with no links to Quebec, and having married INTO a Franco-Albertan family as well, I'd like to say.... stuff it. Quebec is not the only source of French in this country.
Speaking strictly for myself, Karrie, I don't discriminate with colour, race or creed- just behaviour. I just can't see not allowing someone to erect whatever sign they want on their own property, even if it's written in Upper Mongolian.
I knew, I didn't forget but ---VANOC didn't seem to pay enough attention to the details from Calgary and I doubt they will meet with the same success.
Thanks VanIsle
I understand peoples' concern with the financial repercussions of such an undertaking, but rarely do Olympics succeed as a money-making venture - but
should they be considered primarily for dollars, dinars, or rather diplomacy and friendship among regular people who are not politicians, royals, leaders, but regular folk who share the same problems the world over?
The mingling of strangers from all over the planet competing in wild and wooly sport rather than killing each other carries a message to me far greater than who makes the big bucks.
The dollar aspect is rarely measured in cultural progress, but somehow as these games become larger, more people access them - even some with one athlete on display - make my hopes for the future of humanity soar....
I just can't translate it into money. But that is why I am not wealthy perhaps?
I think there is more value in global understanding and competition than financial profit.
I understand peoples' concern with the financial repercussions of such an undertaking, but rarely do Olympics succeed as a money-making venture - but
should they be considered primarily for dollars, dinars, or rather diplomacy and friendship among regular people who are not politicians, royals, leaders, but regular folk who share the same problems the world over?
The mingling of strangers from all over the planet competing in wild and wooly sport rather than killing each other carries a message to me far greater than who makes the big bucks.
The dollar aspect is rarely measured in cultural progress, but somehow as these games become larger, more people access them - even some with one athlete on display - make my hopes for the future of humanity soar....
I just can't translate it into money. But that is why I am not wealthy perhaps?
I think there is more value in global understanding and competition than financial profit.
Last edited: