London, 21st March – Every year on 20 March, French-speakers around the world celebrate International Francophony Day. This year, a few months before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, performers from francophone countries held an advance celebration in Trafalgar Square, London, on 17th March, where cultural diversity and the diversity of the French language were promoted in a whole day of concerts.
For the first time, the most famous square in London was filled with the colours and accents of francophone countries. More than 70,000 spectators enjoyed performances by artists from Lebanon, Haiti, Senegal, Luxembourg, Belgium (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles), Switzerland, Quebec, Tunisia and France.
Rule 23 of the Charter of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives French the status of an official language of the Games, equal with English. This is why, for every Olympic Games since Athens in 2004, the Francophony Secretary-General has appointed a High Representative, who is charged with accompanying the work of the Olympic Movement to ensure that the French language retains the place it deserves.
For the London Olympic Games, Michaëlle Jean has accepted this appointment. She will sign an agreement with Lord Sebastian Coe, and will lead several initiatives, with the support of the francophone ambassadors in London, including the Francophony Festival in Trafalgar Square, the provision of translators before and during the Games and other francophone events.
Her predecessors were Pascal Couchepin, former President of the Swiss Confederation (Vancouver 2010), Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France (Beijing 2008), Lise Bissonnette (Turin 2006) and Hervé Bourges (Athens 2004).
Michaëlle Jean is currently the UNESCO Special Envoy to Haiti. She was Governor-General of Canada from 2005 to 2010, and in this capacity she presided over the official ceremonies at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010, accompanied by Jacques Rogge and John Furlong.
To relive the event and future actions up to and during the Games, visit the new website www.lefrancaisjadore.com.
