French President Emmanuel Macron was awarded the Olympic Order in Gold by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Wednesday, August 28, at a ceremony held at the Elysée Palace in Paris. It was a reserved honor for him in appreciation of his steadfast support to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and for upholding the ideals of the Olympic Movement, as espoused by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics.
Emmanuel Macron defender of the candidature of Paris
During his mandate, in 2017, Macron became a regular defender of the candidature of Paris for the 2024 Olympics. The first occurrence of this type happened in Lausanne, at the International Olympic Committee, from the first declaration of support; he showed, with precision, that he knew the Olympic file promised to reunite France and create a new source of inspiration for numerous people worldwide. In the ceremony, President Bach said that Emmanuel Macron energy and vision had driven the Olympic project, underlining that he had a comprehensive understanding of the initiative in its entirety.
Macron played a decisive role in forging that rare political consensus among different sets of authorities in France to overcome the obstacles to organizing this mega event. He succeeded as the world watched the breathtaking Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics held against the banks of the River Seine, between the backdrop of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, in this historic city. It was nothing less than a showpiece for this city and the world at large a message of unity and peace.
In his speech of thanks, President Emmanuel Macron underlined the fact that this recognition was a tribute not only to him but also to the work of the whole French nation. He emphasized the decisive contribution of the IOC, its members, and teams for what he termed the ‘resounding success’ of the Paris 2024 Games.
Emmanuel Macron also reiterated his support for the Olympic Games as a mission for peace, a precept that, in a general context shot through with tension, guided—long before the first starting gun was fired his every move on supporting the event. His approach helped ensure the participation of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, reinforcing the role of sport as a binding force.
Deciding to award the Olympic Order to President Emmanuel Macron underlined the value of his vision, leadership, and devotion to the Olympic Movement, and had to be regarded as part of the success of hosting the Paris 2024 Games as a symbol of unity and global cooperation.
Author: Sudipta Bera
Content writer
