Masculinity in Culture: How is a Man Perceived in The US, France and The Rest of The World

For endless generations, masculinity has been an ever-changing perception of what makes a man. I’m sure you would find that the definition of what a man should be has changed so rapidly to the point where it’s unrecognizable to its established parameters more than a couple decades ago, or even just a single decade.

When considering what aspects of masculinity you yourself find to be valid, I will always suggest that people consider the perspective of other cultures. This is so you can better broaden your own understanding of what masculinity is, and perhaps you can apply some of the things you’ve learned into your own life.

What is masculinity to you? I seriously want you to take a moment to consider the question I just posed. Think about how you were indirectly taught about masculinity through the actions of others and the media you consumed. Take into account if the ever-changing world has changed your perception of what a man “should” be. Have it on your head? Good. As you read through the article and get through learning about how different cultures see the subject of masculinity, think back on your answer and see if there are any changes you’d make. If you decide to make changes, you’ve broadened your understanding of what you can do to better yourself. If not, that’s fine; you’ve got a solid view of what you need to improve yourself, and that’s respectable.

Either way, here’s what you can learn about masculinity found in other cultures.

 

The Value of Masculinity in Culture

In many cultures, masculinity is defined by self improvement and tends to be a measure of worth of sorts. However, there is no fixed value. Every society, culture, and generation has their own views on what masculinity is, and you can bet it’s vastly different than what it was a hundred years ago. The point, however, is that no two cultures are the same when it comes to defining masculinity.

In some cultures, like Japan, masculinity is associated with success and power. Meanwhile, Scandinavian countries tend to associate masculinity with respect, empathy, and equality. Some are pretty straightforward, such as some Middle Eastern countries, where they tend to weave their definitions of masculinity around religious text. Others are fairly complex, such as with the United States, where the ideas of masculinity seem to be shifting wildly throughout the modern day.

Some cultures value competition and material success, while others pride traditionalism.

Because of this, the true definition of masculinity is almost impossible to ascertain, but we can work to understand others’ views of it and perhaps incorporate them into our own beliefs to better ourselves.

 

Examples of Masculine Culture

Masculine culture is, in essence, the traits we want to pass down to our young men of the next generation. We do this through everyday displays.

For South Koreans, it can be through serving their country in the military.

For US citizens, it’s often seen through strength and dominance.

For Iranians, many display it through leasing their families.

All in all, masculine culture is about showing that you are able and willing to pass on the values of your culture onto the next generation of young men. It’s about teaching them how to be the best man they can be so that they’re able to help lead their culture and maintain the best of its values. Whether some cultures have aspects that you don’t agree with when it comes to masculinity, the fact still stands: the men of today will define the men of tomorrow, and what they pass on, whether it be strength, respect, strictness, or patriotism, is what defines masculinity.

 

How Masculinity is Viewed in Different Cultures

So now that we’ve covered the broader aspects of what masculinity is, let’s look at some examples of masculinity in different cultures. You’re doing to find that there’s a huge difference in thought depending on which side of the globe you’re on, but through just a few examples in each, you’ll come to understand the basics of masculinity around the world.

 

Masculinity in Western Cultures

While this isn’t true for every western country (i.e, Scandinavia), most tend to have this drive for power and success. Men are the leaders and the most influential, and whether people know it or not, they tend to focus on a man who is successful and dominant. However, there have been shits in the tides as of late. Let’s look deeper into some western cultures.

 

United States

In the US, the masculine individual is usually seen as strong and powerful, both in physique and in character. They’re the leaders in both society and in the family, usually posing as the breadwinners. This is how it’s been for a while, anyhow, but as of late, there has been a drive to shift society’s view on what masculinity truly is. It’s become a polarizing subject between the traditionalists who believe strong masculinity is necessary for functioning American society and modernists who deem it no longer necessary.

 

Germany

German culture tends to lean towards the more traditionally masculine side of things. You’ll see that they value competition and success, something that starts all the way back from their schooling days. There’s also a noticeable divide where gender roles are more traditional than others.

 

France

France doesn’t strictly adhere to traditional gender roles or stereotypes when it comes to masculinity. Instead, their culture values caring for one another rather than competition, like most western countries are. Competition and success is still valued, but not as highly as you would see elsewhere.

 

Australia

Ask anyone to picture an Australian man and they’ll probably think of a rugged outdoorsman, which is surprisingly not far off from the norm. However, just like with the United States, there’s been a push to change the perception of masculinity and instead embrace non-traditional gender roles, such as the man of the house taking on more homely responsibilities.

 

Masculinity in Eastern Cultures

Over the years, the east has slowly started becoming more Westernized, and while some of those values still trickle in, the East still have their own ideas of what masculinity is. Let’s take a look at what else this entails.

 

China

Masculinity is a complex idea in China, and is based in both societal and historical norms. For Chinese men, strength, courage, stoicism, and family is what matters most. As Confucius says: the man is the head of the household. Like most cultures on this list, though, it’s being challenged by modern society.

 

Japan

In all honesty, Japan was almost put into the “western culture” section because of how westernized its culture had become, but in the end, it’s still an eastern nation. Anyhow, Japan’s form of masculinity is trained on success and work. Japan is famous for its workplace culture, and it’s here that a man thrives. He is expected to put his work (and more importantly, his company) above all else. As of late, though, the younger generations are starting to reject this idea of a demanding work culture.

 

India

Masculinity is rooted in both tradition and religion in India. Like China, the focus remains on strength, courage, and being able to provide for a family. These ideas are deeply intertwined with Hinduism, including the roles of the caste system and their gods. Like with Islam or Christianity, their views of masculinity come from their religion, but as of late, these views have been shifting due to more modernist values. While there is pushback from traditionalists, infighting is never good for a society in general.

 

France’s Hushed Radical Tea Movement

When ordering a cup of tea in Paris, chances are what arrives at the table will not be what you expected. A glass will be placed on the table with a pot of hot water and a tea bag. Upon request, milk may be served hot.

For decades the Brits of France have been looking for a suitable cup of tea. Needless to say, no one has found it. The market sells boxes of weak tea that would receive a failing grade from the Brits.

Individuals who want tea must ask British friends to send it to them, purchase it online, or go to the market and purchase it from Marks and Spencer.

While individuals are doing this, there is a hushed radical tea movement in France.

In France, connoisseurs are raising their cups for French blends that have been hailed as excellent across the globe.

Tea brands are quickly expanding, selling not only online but also in stores across the world. Hundreds of varieties are available.

The middle class of France is suddenly a tea-drinking one with tea salons spreading like wildfire. Individuals are signing up for classes that teach one how to taste a proper cup of tea and serve it.

When French tea is compared to British tea, the two are not the same. British tea is heavily brewed and rich in dark tannins, while French tea is considered to be more delicate.

 

Didier Jumeau-Lafond of Dammann Teas, based in Dreux, west of Paris, stated that when one goes to China auctions, one can tell the British, as they purchase  1,000 tonnes of this and another 1,000 tonnes of that. The difference between the Brits and the French is that those in France just want the best quality, and will purchase a maximum of 10 chests at a time. The Brits have a goal of getting it at the cheapest price.

Dammann, an ancient company, can date back to King Louis XIV. In modern times it assisted in accompanying the French tea revolution by producing an immense scope of fragrant brews.

In France, a recent age of wellness-conscious patrons has started unearthing what tastes tea can really possess. Different colors, new growths, vintages, fermented, and single garden teas are all possible.

In the 17th century was when tea first arrived in Paris from the Dutch and was often given for health reasons. Over time, tea became a part of everyday life. The beverage was so popular that one newspaper was called Le Thé. By the 19th century, tea was a passion for those lucky enough to be well off in France. However, in the UK, tea remained very popular for everyone.

 

Jumeau-Lafond said that when he was a child, there were only two kinds of folks who drank tea in France – invalids and aristocrats. He then went on to say approximately 20 years ago people began believing coffee was bad for you, so they started looking for a substitute. They tried tea and found that they enjoyed it.

 

Top Three Healthy Herbal Teas You Should Try

Herbal teas are drinks produced from the infiltration of herbs, spices, or other plant substances in hot water. They come in a large variety of flavors, each with its own health benefits.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is the perfect beverage when looking for various health benefits. Health benefits include:

  • Decreasing menstrual pain, less anxiety during this time of the month, and less distress
  • Slowing down or preventing osteoporosis
  • Treats the common cold
  • Aids in relaxation and sleep
  • Lowers blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes
  • Promotes good digestive health
  • Helps prevent cancer and assists in cancer treatments
  • Decreases inflammation
  • Improves heart health

 

Ashwagandha Tea

Ashwagandha Tea

Ashwagandha is a popular herb that has been used for many years in helping improve brain function. Other health benefits of ashwagandha tea include:

  • Decreases inflammation
  • May be effective in treating insomnia
  • Reduces stress
  • Supports endurance and strength
  • May lower cholesterol
  • Reduces depression and anxiety
  • It helps to boost testosterone levels in males
  • Could aid in reducing stress-related weight gain

Sage Tea

Sage Tea

Sage tea is made from the herb sage which is commonly grown in many gardens. It is well known as being a member of the mint family. As it is full of many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it has numerous health benefits. These include:

  • Promoting brain health
  • Improves blood sugar control
  • Assists with skin health and wound healing
  • Might have anti-cancer properties
  • Promotes oral health
  • Aids in women’s health
  • Can soothe upset stomachs
  • Relieves bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, and flatulence
  • Helps with heartburn

 

 

 

7 dating differences between French and American culture

The movies make it appear utterly romantic, but on the face of it there surely can’t be much of a difference between relationships in the US and France, right?

Well, there are – and there are plenty.

The movies tend to be exactly right in what they depict. Dating in France is much more traditional and some might even call it classic. To highlight the point in detail, let’s take a look at seven dating differences between the two countries.

 

Group dates are completely in fashion in France

In the US, it would be fair to say that there’s a time and a place for a group date. Usually, this is a long way down the line, when couples wine and dine with other couples.

In France, the opposite is true. Rather than starting with a one-on-one date as is the case in the US, they go out in groups. Dinner parties are attended by several single friends and if a spark is present, a further group “date” might be held.

Ultimately, it means that the experience is much more laid-back in comparison to the US. There is a lot less pressure on each person in a group environment.

 

The French have traditional dating “roles”

In the US, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the various roles that each sex should take on during the dating game. In other words, one woman in a relationship might be quite flirty and pursue a man, while another might be much more passive.

In France, it’s much more traditional. Men are regarded as being far more active as they pursue women, while women tend to be a little shyer.

 

The first kiss is much more important in France

As we all know, there becomes a point in a relationship in the US where a “talk” is needed. The talk is basically stating where the relationship is, and if it’s “serious” or not. In other words, if you are considered “girlfriend” and “boyfriend”.

In France, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The real seal comes in the form of a kiss. Once a couple of kiss, they are regarded as girlfriend and boyfriend; no questions asked.

 

It’s not called “dating” in France

This next point isn’t about a direct translation for “dating”, but more the meaning of the word. In fact, there’s no such word in France.

Instead, the closest translation is “rendez-vous galant”. However, this actually translates as “appointment”, which is hardly an accurate representation of how a person based in the US would describe it as. Even a lot of French men nowadays think that this approach is too formal.

Bearing this in mind, most will simply say that they are “seeing someone” – which is the modern-day equivalent.

 

The French won’t ask a stranger on a date

In the US, it’s not overly uncommon for a waiter to ask someone out who they are serving in a restaurant. This approach is something that would certainly not occur in France.

The French need to get to know someone very well before asking them out on a date. Knowing someone for a few minutes certainly doesn’t constitute this.

 

The differences in PDA

At this point we should add that all couples are different, but the general practice in the US is to hold back when it comes to excessive PDAs (public displays of infection, for those unaware). Sure, most couples will hold hands and may lightly touch their other half but in general, this is as far as is socially acceptable.

The French meanwhile have a much more forward approach. They are more than happy to display their affections for the world to see. It might explain why the term “French kissing”, is called that!

 

Relationships are always serious

Again, as we all know, relationships in the US don’t always have to be serious. When it comes to France, this isn’t the case though.

Every relationship that a person gets into is serious. When you start “seeing someone”, you have already considered that this is a person that you could marry.

The Presidents Of The United States & The Pets They Owned

It’s not uncommon for presidents to have their own pets when they move into the white house. The most common pet is a dog. The most recent president prior to the 2016 elections, Barrack Obama had two dogs. They were both Portuguese Water Dogs with the names Bo and Sunny. President Trump, who was elected in the 2016 elections is the first president in 130 years to not have a pet.

Who was the previous president that didn’t own a dog? That was William McKinley. President McKinley died while he was serving his second term of gangrene. However, it was reported that President McKinley kept a parrot, roosters and kittens as pets.

During Herbert Hoover’s campaign, he could be frequently seen on the campaign trail with a Belgian Shepherd named King Tut. People took pictures of him with his dog and it became a nationwide phenomenon. Warren G. Harding had the first dog that received national attention through newspaper. The dog’s name was simply Laddie Boy.

Some presidents have owned some very unconventional pets over the years, ranging from farm animals to even exotic animals like a tiger.

 

George Washington was the first President of the United States and owned a large array of animals.

  • Three known American Foxhounds named Scentwell, Vulcan and Sweetlips
  • Four different Black & Tan Coonhounds named Taster, Tipsy, Tipler and Drunkard
  • A donkey that was gifted to him by the King of Spain, Charles III
  • Two horses named Blueskin and Nelson
  • He did possess a parrot but it’s debated whether or not he was the original owner or the first lady Martha Washington was
  • He owned one greyhound dog named after General Cornwallis by the name of Cornwallis
  • Finally, he owned several stalions named Traveller, Steady, Samson, Leonidas and Magnolia

 

The second President of the United States, John Adams didn’t own nearly as many pets as George Washington.

  • Adams had three dogs named Mark, Satan and Juno
  • He also owned two horses named Caesar and Cleopatra

 

Thomas Jefferson was the first president to own an unconventional animal

  • Jefferson owned two young bear cubs
  • He owned a horse named Caractacus and a mockingbird named Dick
  • Lastly, he had two Briard dogs, one of which was named Buzzy and the other dog’s name is unknown

 

James Madison only owned one pet, which was a parrot named Polly.

James Monroe only officially owned one pet, which was a Siberian Husky named Sebastian but his daughter Maria Monroe owned a Spaniel.

John Adams received a gift from Marquis De Lafayette in the form of an alligator.

Andrew Jackson had a controversial parrot that he owned that was taught to use swear words. He also owned his own fighting cocks and five different horses named Truxton, Lady Nashville, Emily, Sam Patches and Bolivia.

Martin Van Buren shortly owned two exotic animals before he was pushed by congress to give them up. He was gifted two young tiger cubs from the Sultan of Oman but their care under Jackson was short lived.

William Henry Harrison only owned two pets. One was a Durham cow named Sukey and the other was a goat with an unspecified name.

John Tyler owned a horse simply named The General, a canary named Johnny Ty and an Italian Greyhound named La Beau

James Polk was the first president to not own any known pets.

Zachary Taylor only owned one horse named Old Whitey.

Millard Fillmore owned two ponies, one named Dixon and one named Mason

Franklin Pierce had two different Japanese Chin Dogs that were gifted to him and he also owned two birds that he obtained from Japan

James Buchanan owned an eagle, a terrier named Punch and a Newfoundland named Lara.

Abraham Lincoln is famously noted for saying that one of his cats was smarter than his cabinet.

  • Lincoln owned two goats named Nanko and Nanny
  • A turkey named Jack
  • Two dogs, one was named Fido and one was named Jip
  • Two cats named Dixie and Tabby (Dixie is who he referred to as being smarter than his cabinet)
  • He additionally owned one horse and one rabbit

 

One of the most disturbing kept pits was that of Andrew Johnson, who was feeding mice that he spotted in his bedroom.

 

Ulysses S Grant had quite a few horses

  • The names he gave his horses were Mary, Jennie, St. Louis, Julia, Egypt, Cincinnatus, Butcher Boy and Jeff Davis
  • Among all his horses, he also had two ponies named Reb and Billy Button
  • He additionally had a newfoundland named Faithful and a dog named Rosie

 

The 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes was a very avid animal lover. He had a Cocker Spaniel named Dot, an English Mastiff named Duke, a Greyhound named Grim, a Newfoundland named Hector, a Miniature Schnauzer named Otis, two hunting dogs named Shep and Juno, another dog named Jet, a cat he named Piccolomini, a Siamese cat named Siam which was the first ever Siamese cat to be owned in the United States and finally, he had another Siamese cat which for some reason, he named Miss Pussy. Both of these cats were gifts bestowed by the King of Siam.

If you think that’s an impressive list, wait until you see the exhaustive list of pets the Kennedy family owned. They had two parakeets named Marybelle and Bluebell, a pony named Macaroni, a rabbit named Zsa Zsa, a horse named Sardar, a poodle named Gaullie, a Welsh Terrier named Charlie, a Cat with a simple name Tom Kitten, a Doberman called Moe, two ponies named Leprechaun and Tex, two rodents named Billie and Debbie, a dog that was gifted to them by the Soviet Union named Pushinka, an Irish Cocker Spaniel named Shannon and a Wolfhound simple named Wolf.

 

Finally, we have the last two presidents that took up the oval office before Donald Trump.

George W. Bush owned a Spaniel that he named after Scott Fletcher, Spotty or Spot Fletcher. Sadly, this dog had to be euthanized due to medical complications in 2004. He had a small dog up until 2013 named Barney, which was criticized by Vladimir Putin for not being as strong or as fast as his dog. Miss Beazley was a Scottish Terrier that was given to him by his wife that passed away in 2014. He also had a cat named India which passed away in 2009 and finally, he owns a Longhorn named Ofelia that lives on his ranch.

Barrack Obama didn’t have a lot of pets. He only had two dogs named Bo and Sunny, both of them were Portuguese Water Dogs.

How Emmanuel Macron Wants To Unite European Leadership And Empower Europe

Is Europe Looking to Achieve a New Kind of Leadership?

The thing about effective leadership that works in the political world is that it cannot be achieved by one single person. It has to be a united effort to bring all allies together and have all the leaders unite under one goal. Right now, the West isn’t exactly having an effective democracy system.

The formation of democracy came in the 18th century when people wanted a system that defended the freedoms of the people and having market companies. One area that could desperately use some progress of these aspect is the Middle East.

Today, there’s been a sharp rise in misguided democracies and there’s a new wave of extremism happening in Europe. So, who’s to blame and what’s causing all of this to happen?

The problem is, there’s not one single cause and there’s no one single person to blame. There’s a level of inequality among citizens that can be to blame and the rise of Islamic terrorism as well. Another problem is you have people who believe climate change is a hoax and don’t want to waste time fighting it.

 

Why Is Change So Essential Today?

When you look at the middle class today and hear their voices, they have a strong hated for politicians. They feel like they’ve been let down and that no one cares about them. They have this idea in their head that Europe only cares about the elite and that they could without the middle class.

You can start combating this by reforming migration to the point where everyone feels safe and sound. The necessary right of asylum for refugees is also crucial.

One of the most notable examples would be Germany. Something needs to change because there are some areas of Europe and Germany that wouldn’t survive another wave of migration.

 

How Does Germany Feel Today?

We’ve been seeing a lot of concern lately and there’s a lot of demand for the safety of the people. Germany is actually set to spend more on defense than France, which is highly unusual. The truth of the matter is, even with increased military spending, Germany needs France to help ensure the safety and security of the country. All of Europe needs each other to unite and help protect everything we hold dear.

 

The Divide Between Eastern and Western Europe

There’s another myth between a lot of young people today that there’s some great conflict between the East and West. The continent became divided when the wall was constructed and that was a huge mistake. Some of the current leaders of Europe have a very cynical view of EU and have even turned their backs on them. If Europe keeps rejecting these principles and common goals between EU and themselves, that’s when nations start growing weaker.

 

Dispelling the France Defense Budget Cut Myth

It’s commonly thought that the Economy and Finance Ministry has put a hard lock on the budget of 2.6 billion pounds. Emmanuel Macron has defended that statement by saying there’s been no freeze in the defense budget since his arrival. He later stated that he’d like to aim for a 2% GDP spending budget by 2025.

 

Pandering and Populists

Populism is on the rise and a lot of it has been directed towards Donald Trump. It’s also believed that populism played a huge role in the Brexit movement and when asked about populism of the French elections, he had plenty to say. President Macron said he doesn’t like to flatter people or pander to people’s ideas just so they’ll like him. He also made reference to some politicians who specifically use their fears to get a rise in popularity.

 

Emmanuel Macron’s Thoughts on Donald Trump

While he was elected by the people, a lot of world leaders have made him a hot topic because some of his recent actions as president. Macron stated that a lot of world leaders are uneasy because no one knows what he’s going to do and he doesn’t have a clearly outlined international policy.

 

Regarding the Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

Syria loves to use inhumane methods to target enemies, many of them inside their own country, such as deadly agents and chemical attacks. France however has noted that if they cross any drawn lines, that they will have no problem taking action because not taking action when you’ve enforced some lines makes you look weak as a leader. The fight for Syria requires a drawn out political road map. Military options alone cannot solve something like what’s going on in Syria.

France’s stance against terrorist groups is very clear. All the nations should unite and throw everything they have at them to combat them and their extremist ideals. They’re enemies after all and it would be great if Russia’s cooperation was with European powers in regards to fighting terror.

 

How Terrorism is Challenging Democracy

The Islamic State came in full force taking over large parts of Iraq. This war was supposed to be a quick and nearly no cost war but as for the United States, that and Afghanistan have proven to be their longest ways and the costliest in terms of spending. A balance needs to be made between the two following things: the protection of everyone’s freedom and legislative options.

 

Talking and Cooperating with Vladimir Putin

One of the things that makes doing any kind of negotiations with Putin so hard is that he wants everyone to see Russia as this huge superpower. Putin’s also not someone to nudge on a subject but he will hear your position out. One of the main problems in getting Putin to join in on the fight is his friendship with Bashar Al-Assad. While he’s deeply invested into fighting terror around the world, he also wants to make sure he avoids failing as a country.

The similarities between French and Olympian values discussed

It would be fair to say that France has certainly benefited from its fair share of major events over the years – although this is entirely of their own doing. In other words, after proving to be such an impressive host in a variety of sports including football and handball, it should come as no surprise that they are now preparing for the 2024 Olympics.

While there were a number of valid candidates vying to host the event, in the end France came out comfortably on top.

In a recent, open speech to the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, President François Hollande was keen to emphasize just why France is the ideal location for the Games.

Let’s take a look at what the President commented on.

 

Existing infrastructure

This first point should come as completely expected as to reiterate the history-factor, France have hosted more than their fair share of events (although again, this is of great credit to them).

Over the years there are umpteen locations which have emerged as possibilities for major events. Some of this is due to the progressive nature of domestic sport in France, while others are due to the other major events which have contributed to the development of various venues.

On top of the above, extensive plans have been devised for the Olympic Village. As past Games have taught us, this is a key element, yet France’s history in quickly erecting successful venues and other facilities such as gyms and training facilities for olympic athletes suggest that this will be another resounding success.

A point should also be raised about climate change. As we all know, France is a huge advocate of this and has numerous policies in place to do its bit for the world becoming as green as possible. This appears to be translating into the built environment in relation to sporting venues as well, with the President suggesting that all will be built with this in mind.

 

The unity-factor

With the world subjected to additional troubles over recent times (more on this later), the unity-factor was something else that was drawn upon by the President.

In simple terms, everyone is in the Games together. In the words of the President himself, he didn’t shy away from the fact that political rifts and other arguments are commonplace in the country.

Despite the above, everyone has rallied behind Team France. It means there is immense enthusiasm behind the games, and everyone has been singing from the same hymn sheet from day one.

 

Reassurances about security

This is the point that might raise the most concerns amongst the general public, particularly as France has been susceptible to the threats of terrorism over the last few years.

This was an interesting point made by the President, not least of all because he acknowledged it. He also claimed that he was asked about it several times by Games organizers – which perhaps highlights some of the worries that are lingering over this event.

It’s worth honing in on all of the other major events that France have hosted. While the likes of Euro 2016 will grab all the headlines, as it’s such a huge spectacle, let’s not forget that there have been over 40 world and continental championships across a variety of sports over recent years. Not one security incident has occurred at these events and this, coupled with the fact that the President announced security as the top priority, means that concerns about this issue have certainly been eased recently.

 

Values encouraging youth

There’s no doubt that the world is attempting to encourage youth to participate within sport as much as possible, and this seems to be another core element of France’s pledge for the Games.

The President made a big case about the values that are shared by both the country and the Olympics and specifically, how these can affect young people. The driving message was that the country wants young people to get excited about the Games – and this doesn’t just apply to young people in France. It applies to youth all over the world, to again emphasize the unity that the Olympics is all about.

 

The historical element

As we have alluded to through this guide, France and Paris in particular certainly have plenty of history when it comes to major events.

Something that many people don’t realize is the history in relation to France and the Olympics though. While France has hosted the event on numerous occasions, the last time that Paris was a host city was in 1924. This is very apt considering the circumstances; it will be one-hundred years exactly when the French capital hosts it again.

This was celebrated by the President, who gifted the Olympic flag from the 1924 games to Thomas Bach.

 

A closing note on the 2024 Olympic Games

It’s clear that France is one of the best-armed cities when it comes to hosting an Olympic Games. It has been at the center of numerous major sporting events over the years, and it’s also a country which seems to embrace the true values of the Games.

It’s a country that accepts that there are security concerns, but at the same time makes every effort to promote unity through its people and those attending. When this is coupled with the fact that it will be a century exactly since Paris initially hosted the Games, there is a notable charm about the upcoming event.

Olympic Day 2017: The day that Paris became an Olympic Park

As part of Paris’ bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games, it would be fair to describe June 23 and June 24 2017 as special events. These were the dates in which Paris offered the public the largest ever sports park based in a major city and really strengthened its push to hold one of sport’s greatest events.

 

What was the Olympic Day?

The idea of Olympic Day is simple; it aims to introduce the maximum amount of people to a variety of sports. Naturally, in keeping with the Olympics, all of the events are competed there or as a Paralympic sport. This means that many sports which are not regarded as mainstream, or potentially even just not accessible for the masses, are included.

However, it’s not just sport that’s focused on. While the public receive the opportunity to attend various sporting demonstrations, and maybe even introduce themselves to the athletes who compete for their country, there is more to this day than immediately meets the eye. It’s also the chance to get involved in various cultural workshops, with many surrounding craft.

There was a slight deviation to the most recent Olympic Day – with this going against history and actually lasting for two days. The reason for this was to encourage the local people, and potentially those watching from afar, what it would be really like for Paris to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.

 

Is there any history behind Olympic Days?

While a lot of emphasis was placed on this particular Olympic Day, in truth it’s not the first that has donned the city.

In fact, you have to turn back the clock over 100 years to see when the first one of these days was held. Not only this, but it isn’t just France that takes part. In 1895, Baron Pierre de Coubertin formed the International Olympic Committee and this initiated the start of Olympic Day. It occurs every June 23 although as we’ve already disclosed, this was extended to June 24 in a bid to enhance France’s campaign.

 

What sort of activities were available?

While we have mulled over some of the activities that tend to form the basis of Olympic Day, it’s worth taking a look at some of the main ones which occurred in France.

There were in fact 30 different sporting disciplines held across various locations and if we were to hone in on some of the main ones, they would include the following:

  • On the lawns of Les Invalides the public could participate or watch various team sports.
  • The floating athletics track was seen as one of the key points of the day, with this being situated between Pont Alexandre III and Pont des Invalides.
  • The Place de la Concorde temporarily became an outdoor velodrome.
  • A climbing wall was erected at the Pavillion de l’Arsenal.
  • There was a diving board over Pont Alexandre III.

It would be fair to say that the event, and all of the activities that we’ve just mentioned, opened in emphatic fashion as well.

Starting on the Friday, somewhere between 150 and 300 kayakers departed from the Stade de France and travelled to the floating athletics track. These kayakers were led by Tony Estanguet, who happens to be the co-chairperson of Paris 2024, as well as being a household name in France thanks to his exploits in past Olympics where he picked up medals in canoeing. Over the course of the journey various other influential stakeholders became involved, with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo and the president of CNOSF, Denis Masseglia, arriving to accompany the kayakers.

On the Saturday, a different type of major event was held. This particular one required the participation of thousands of sportspeople, both professionals and amateurs. They were all taking part in the Paris 2024km and as the name suggests, this involved a route of the above length being shared by everyone. Horse riders rode 20km of the journey, cyclists traveled for 527km, while the runners contributed 1477km. The route wasn’t singular either – it involved the runners arriving from different corners of the city. The result of this was that everyone would conclude at Les Invalides for the grand finale – which then utilized the Olympic bid colors to strengthen the country’s message.

 

What did officials say about the day?

Unsurprisingly, the message from officials was very much what we have reported through the course of this page.

The Minister of Sport, Laura Flessel, was quick to announce that this was an opportunity for the people of France to show how the country can deal with such a major event. It was also an opportunity to encourage the passion which is a necessity whenever bidding for an event of this magnitude.

 

A closing summary on Olympic Day in Paris

It would be fair to say that the French certainly went to great lengths to ensure that their Olympic Day went above and beyond previous events.

The carrot for the country was obviously the potential of hosting a future Olympic Games – but most residents, and visitors of the city at the time, would agree that it was a special day regardless of these motives. The activities not only presented unique opportunities to all that attended, but it also showcased some of the best facilities that are in offer in the city of Paris.

Paris 2024: How the authorities fueled France’s bid

As anyone who has monitored the bidding process for any major event, it’s a difficult one to say the least. We’re not just talking about the vast sums of money involved (usually in the form of tens of millions) but also the other tactics that can fuel this sort of event.

In the case of the Olympic Games in 2024, France threw everything at the event. Their mission was to secure the Olympic and Paralympic Games during this year and following the announcement that main rival Los Angeles would be hosting the event later in 2028, their approach was successful.

As well as financial backing, one of the other reasons behind their success was pressure from the authorities. The French government pushed everything they could to secure this event for the city of Paris, and through the course of this guide we’ll discuss exactly how they did this.

 

The history behind the bid

There was plenty of reason behind Paris’ bid for the Games – and the city has more experience than most other countries when it comes to events of this magnitude.

If we cast our minds back less than twenty years, World Cup 1998 is regarded as one of the best football tournaments over recent times. It was their ample delivery of this tournament that resulted in them being awarded Euro 2016, where they once again demonstrated a fantastic ability to host such a prestigious event.

It’s not just football where the city has excelled, though. The 2017 World Men’s Handball Championship was also held there – which shows that Paris isn’t a one trick pony, so to speak.

As well as the obvious appeal to the public, let’s take a look at Paris’ results from an economic perspective in relation to these events. If we hone in on Euro 2016, this event brought in an additional one billion euros to the French economy. This is in addition to the estimated 10,000 jobs that were created, as well as the 600,000 tourists who visited the country.

 

Views from the Prime Minister

As we discussed earlier, the government of France played a big part in helping to get this event for the city. In early 2017, Bernard Cazeneuve assured people that the city was making a huge commitment to the Olympics and ensuring that their knowledge of hosting previous events would serve them well.

While some may view such comments as “just words”, considering some of the badly managed sporting events that have occurred over the years there’s no doubt that comments like this from the Prime Minister were reassuring for those making the final decision.

 

The sustainability factor

Unsurprisingly, sustainability has been a huge factor in the build-up to major upcoming events. As we’ll discuss shortly, this is where the Olympics has faltered in the past but Paris has made promises for both before and after the event takes place.

We’ll get onto their responsibilities in the aftermath shortly, but in relation to beforehand the authorities have promised that sustainable development will be a priority for stakeholders. This will involve deep collaboration with the relevant local authorities, to safeguard the area’s short and long term needs.

 

State commitments

One of the big complaints from past Olympic Games has been the fact that they haven’t really left a legacy. Sure, there’s a psychological legacy in some regards, but if you were to take a look around the likes of Rio and even Athens from years ago it would become clear that many of the venues that were constructed are simply not being used effectively. In fact, many have been left to ruin. The conclusion of this from the public, and this includes people from all over the world, is that the millions of dollars spent investing in such infrastructure was all for waste.

This is where Paris wanted to be set apart. During their proposal for the Games, it became clear that they wanted to use this as an opportunity to encourage sport in the country, making sure that all venues are being used efficiently. There were two commitments that stood out during the proposal:

  • The country have outlined a budget of around €20m that can be used towards a sports development plan. This would be utilized from 2017 and onwards, with the aim of improving the sporting fortunes of local areas. The funding would be channeled through the national Center for Sports Development.
  • Further budget has been outlined to support the “Sport and society” program. This is one program which has arguably been missing from past Olympic Games, as it is designed to be used around sporting education, employment, the development of company sport amongst other issues.

 

A summary on Paris’ successful bid for the Olympics

As you can see, the bid for France to host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics was comprehensive to say the least. It had backing from all of the major government associates, but perhaps more importantly was Paris’ history in hosting such successful sporting events. Over the years two of the largest sporting events in the world, in the form of the World Cup and Euro 2017, were held there and both were regarded as a resounding success.

Particularly as we now reside in a world which is heavily focused on sustainability, the fact that the country was able to make the above events such economically beneficial will have also stood them in positive stead as well.

The 2017 World Men’s Handball Championship in France

It would be fair to say that France has held its fair share of international sporting events over the years – you only have to look at the likes of the World Cup and European Championships to see that.

However, in 2017 all eyes were on the country for a completely different reason. This was the year that a different sport came to town, in the form of handball.

Of course, there’s nothing new about France and handball. The country is exceptionally strong and successful in the sport and you only have to cast your eye back to the previous championship to see that they were victors in that, crushing all the opponents, which came at no surprise since the French team fielded the most athletic and strong lineup looking like they were on steroids, but of course, it was skill.

The country overcame opposition from Denmark during the bidding process, with the decision being made all the way back in December 2011. Denmark had held several previous handball events in recent times, but so had France having hosted the 2007 Women’s World Championship as well.

Following on from the above, let’s take a look at this sporting tournament in detail.

 

A look at the history of men’s handball in France

As we’ve just documented, it was as recent as 2007 when France last hosted a major handball event. However, in terms of men’s events, there have been a couple of note over the last few decades that most probably strengthened their bid for this tournament.

The first occurred in 1970. On this occasion, there were no fewer than 24 cities who were hosting the Championships, which happened to be just the seventh time that one had ever been held. Considering how much of a high profile France have in relation to championships, it will surprise a lot of readers to see that this was their worst ever result. They finished in 12th place and considering there were only sixteen participating teams to start with, it didn’t cover them in much glory. Instead, it was Romania who succeeded, after they overcome East Germany in the final (which happened to be the longest ever contested).

The next time the men’s championship arrived in the country was more recent. In 2001, it was 24 teams who this time came to the country and this time the French were big favorites having won five of their preliminary round games. Such high expectations certainly didn’t flatter to deceive either, with the country overcoming the likes of Germany, Egypt and Sweden as they lifted the trophy. This was the first time since 1954 when a country had both hosted and won the event.

 

What were the ticketing arrangements for the event?

While some sources might not tip handball as an overly popular sport, one only has to take a look at some of the ticketing figures to dispute this. There were over 550,000 tickets on sale for the event – but arguably the most impressive stat related to the pricing structure.

For example, approximately three-quarters of the game cost the same price of a cinema ticket at 9€. Not only this, but even the best seats in the venues did not retail for more than 50€.

One difference between this and other events was the way in which fans could purchase tickets though. Rather than being sold on a match-by-match basis, for this event it was a case of buying tickets as pack. In other words, fans had to select a “pack” of matches to buy tickets for – which allows them to easily purchase tickets for their favorite team. Considering the fact that over 200,000 were sold in the initial months of sale, there is evidence to suggest that this approach was fruitful.

 

What were the venues for the tournament?

In total there are eight venues for the event; Paris-Bercy, Rouen, Nantes, Metz, Albertville, Montpellier, Lille, and Brest. The largest of these is the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, with this having a handball capacity of 27,500. At the other end of the scale is the Brest Arena, in Brest, which has a capacity of just 4,000.

 

How did the tournament play out?

We’ve already spoken about France and their past successes in handball, and 2017 was no different. If we look back to 2001, where they became one of the first countries in centuries to win on home soil, they achieved the same feat this time around after overcoming Norway in 33-26 fashion in the final.

Such a conclusion to the tournament probably didn’t come as a surprise to many people either, after the French coasted through the preliminary round. They won all of their five matches – meaning that they carried some serious momentum into the main event itself.

 

A closing summary on the 2017 World Men’s Handball Championship in France

France have made a habit of hosting major sporting events over the years; although many of these have revolved around football.

They showed their ability to host a successful handball event in the case of the men’s championship in 2001, and this was followed up when the women’s event was there in 2007.

As the above has shown, this has proven to be another hugely successful tournament for the country. This doesn’t just apply from a sporting perspective either, where they successfully defended their trophy, but from other aspects. They pleased many with their approach to ticketing, particularly in relation to the low pricing structure and one would only imagine that this stands them in equally good stead if they bid for any future sporting tournaments.

Macron Says American Researchers Should Move to France in Effort to Reverse Climate Change

Emmanuel Macron, who is the new President of France, doesn’t seem to be letting go of President Trump’s decision to back out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

France has made no secret of the fact that they are trolling him over this particular issue. Macron has joined a number of other world leaders to step up the effort to start reversing the effects of climate change on the planet in spite of Trump’s decision.

It was announced to the public earlier this month that Trump fully intended on backing out of the Paris climate agreement, thereby weakening international efforts to combat global warming. Trump gave a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House, stating that he would stand with the people of the United States, calling the Paris climate agreement a “draconian deal.”

President Trump’s decision to back out of the climate change agreement that had been signed by 195 different nationals was definitely shocking to some, and not so much to others. So far Mr. Trump hasn’t had the most environmentally-friendly stance with regards to his policies and even the cabinet members he has chosen.

Trump stated that he wanted to negotiate a better deal for the United States, as he felt like this one didn’t have much to offer. Within minutes of the president’s remarks, the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy all stated that the Paris climate accord could not be renegotiated.

Macron has made a fairly bold move by putting pressure on American researchers as well as people from all over the world who want to fight climate change to move to France. There is absolutely no doubt that new French president is serious, and he has approached his appeal to researchers all over the world with a very Trump-esque sort of zeal.

The French President’s “Make Our Planet Great Again” is definitely trolling Trump, but its message is still very serious. This website has invited researchers, businesses, entrepreneurs, students and non-government organizations around the world to come to France to help meet the goals laid out in the Paris agreement.

Macron stated in a recent online video, “Please, come to France. You are welcome, it’s your nation. Want innovative people. We want people working on climate change, energy, renewable and new technologies.” He called Trump’s withdrawal from the climate accord “an actual mistake,” calling on scientists and researchers to come to France to help combat climate change.

“To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the president of the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland,” Macron said on Facebook. It seems as though the new French president is very serious when it comes to bringing in people from all over the world who could aid in the battle against climate change.

When you visit the website, you can clearly see it calling out President Trump on the home screen. From the website: “The (Paris climate agreement) decision is unfortunate but it only reinforced our determination. The planet needs your innovative skills. So, are you IN to change our daily lives and make our planet great again?”

Those who go to www.makeourplanetgreatagain.fr will be able to view a series of step-by-step instructions for those who are interested in moving to France to fight climate change. This website tells researchers, teachers and students how they can go about applying for open faculty positions as well as Ph.D. programs.

Certain people may qualify for a 4-year grant to help with financing their researching project. This grant comes with salary, working staff, students and over expenses. Researchers have the option of staying in France for as long as their grant lasts. Those who qualify for one of these grants won’t have any restrictions with regards to their spouses working in the country.

The website states that France’s school system is free and university tuition is significantly lower than in America. While it remains to be seen just how many people are going to flock to Franc to flight climate change, it does seem like a very appealing offer from the French government.