Sports in France
What do you notice about the types of sports which are popular in France? What do you think this says about French culture?
- A Brief History of the Olympics PDF
- In this excellent 10 minute video, the story of the Tour de France is explored. Explanations of how the strategies of cyclists function, the effects on their bodies, the winning yellow jersey, and more are given.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7wPa1Hl5ZA- Would you compare cycling to France as football to America, in terms of popular culture and society? Why?
- The low-down on French sports and facts.
http://www.france-pub.com/esport.htm - During the Ancien Régime, it was possible for a master of fencing to become a a noble–if the King approved. Fencing has a long history in France, and this sport lives on today.
http://academyoffencingmasters.com/blog/fascinating-french-fencing-facts-17th-18th-century/ - Judo is quite popular in France, and this article tells the history of this sport in French culture.
http://www.gis-reseau-asie.org/monthly-articles/a-brief-history-french-judo-michel-brousse - Often on Sundays, if walking down the street, near a park or such, one may see a gathering of men tossing a ball around. This game, pétanque, France 24, Pétanque as an Institution in Marseille (6 minutes).
http://www.france24.com/en/20170519-you-are-here-france-petanque-game-boules-tradition-provence-marseille-cassis - How to play pétanque (3 minutes).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s9BpxOsOY4 - In 2010, Reuters wrote an article about why gym culture isn’t taking ahold in France. In America, an estimated 52.9 million people have gym memberships, which is almost the entire population of France itself.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitness-france-idUSTRE68Q20520100927- How is this trend reflective of French culture?
