As the Paris Olympics are set to kick off on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron is hoping to use the global event to revitalize his country’s image and boost foreign investment. Despite his recent political setbacks, Macron is confident that the Olympics will showcase France’s beauty, culture, and athletic prowess to a global audience of over 4 billion people.
Macron’s optimism comes after a tumultuous period in French politics, marked by the recent national elections that left the National Assembly without a dominant party. However, the President is choosing to focus on the positive aspects of the Olympics, highlighting the opportunity to promote France’s “landscapes, facilities, savoir-faire, and gastronomy” to the world.
Macron has since said he will not name a new government until after the end of the Paris Olympics.
In an effort to reassure foreign investors about the stability of France’s political situation, Macron will be hosting a lunch with around 40 CEOs of major companies, including Samsung, Tesla, and Coca-Cola. However, when he welcomes over 110 heads of state and government to the Olympics’ opening ceremony, he plans to shift the focus to France’s cultural and athletic achievements.
The Elysee Palace has stated that Macron will use the occasion to showcase “the entire France, its natural and cultural heritage, its art de vivre, and its top-class athletes” to a massive television audience. By doing so, he hopes to unite the French people and shift their attention away from the current political turmoil.
Macron has also promised to take a dip in the Seine River, which has been cleaned up for the Olympics. Although he has not yet followed through on this promise, he has reiterated his intention to do so, likely after the Games have concluded.
As the Olympics get underway, Macron is looking to capitalize on the event’s momentum to boost his own popularity and promote a positive image of France to the world. With three years remaining in his term, he has ample time to make good on his promises and restore his country’s reputation.
