What’s that thumping sound in Paris? A dramatic new pre-game Olympics custom (2024)

What’s that thumping sound in Paris? A dramatic new pre-game Olympics custom (1)

Dan O'Brien, a former American decathlete, bears the brigadier ahead of the High Jump portion of the Decathlon at Stade de France on Friday. He's about to command the attention of the stadium's raucous crowd as part of a new, very French Olympic custom. Hannah Peters/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Hannah Peters/Getty Images

NPR is in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. For more of our coverage from the Games, head to our latest updates.

PARIS — Minutes before tipoff at a men’s 3-on-3 basketball game, a curious act unfolded.

Two men walked onto the court, with them a tall, wooden staff. You could tell by their garb they were not Olympic athletes.

2024 Paris Olympics

In a league of his own, shot-putter Ryan Crouser wins U.S. 3rd Olympic gold in a row

Then, slowly, thump-thump-thump.

The pair passed the thick stick back and forth, taking it to pound the floor each time.

The three blows thundered through the outdoor stadium, hushing the buzzy crowd. Upon its conclusion, the spectators broke into applause.

The men who had effectively commanded the crowd with three easy strikes of a baton were Bruno Gouery and William Abadie — French actors recognizable from the Netflix show Emily in Paris.

It was at once all very light-hearted and serious. Come to find out, the practice is borrowed from the dramatic arts.

It's called the “three ground strikes" — or, les trois coups, s'il vous plait. It’s a new, fittingly French, Olympics ritual that was introduced for the first time this year at the Paris Games.

2024 Paris Olympics

What's inside the mysterious boxed gift Olympic winners get with their medals

The custom is borrowed from an ages-old practice found on French performance stages. But at the Paris Games, it's meant to connect spectators with athletes, and to celebrate the host country's theatrical heritage, organizers say.

The trois coups happens at the top of each sporting session at Olympic venues to mark the start of play.

The honors aren't strictly bestowed to Emily in Paris cast members.

A "former or current" sportsman or sportswoman, a volunteer, public figure or often a completely anonymous person may commence les trois coups, according to organizers.

What’s that thumping sound in Paris? A dramatic new pre-game Olympics custom (4)

Daniel Carter, retired New Zealand rugby player, bears the brigadier upon entering the stadium during the Men's Rugby Sevens group match between Australia and Samoa at Stade de France on July 24, 2024. Hannah Peters/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Tennis great Billie Jean King performed the three-strikes ritual ahead of the Rafael Nadal-Carlos Alcaraz doubles match at Roland Garros. Indian Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra tapped the stick signal the start of Ramita Jindal’s 10-meter air rifle event.

From the French theater to the Olympic venue

The custom was, and in many cases continues to be, present in French classical theater.

But there's a lot of disagreement about the origins' specifics, including the number of strikes that should be deployed.

Some scholars say trois coups harkens back to France's first professional theater, during the Middle Ages, when it was said to evoke religious symbolism — the three blows representing the Holy Trinity.

2024 Paris Olympics

Simone Biles wins her 3rd gold of the 2024 Olympics with the vault named after her

Others put forth a secular take. Paul Gousset, a former technical director of the Royal Opera of Versailles, has explained the use of the three blows before a stage play “as signaling a final check that all was in readiness to begin the production,” according to researcher Marvin Carlson.

By Gousset's telling, the series of blows was used to communicate not to the audience but to the backstage crew: "the head technicians above the stage, below it, and on the side opposite the brigadier, would each give a single blow to show that their area was ready to proceed," wrote Carlson.

The stick used to command the crowd is called a “brigadier.” A brigadier is usually used to describe one who commands a military brigade, yes, but does not a stage manager lead his theater brigade?

2024 Paris Olympics

Why are Olympic swimmers bundled up like they're competing in the Winter Games?

That’s the idea, according to organizers. It was a term used so often to refer to a stick-wielding stage manager that, through the magic of metonymy, the stick itself is now referred to as a brigadier.

But what of its use in athleticism today? The ritual is meant to leave fans with a little souvenir of French culture, bring together theater and sport, and to effectively tell the crowd: Silence — you’re about to see a thrilling show.

“These three strokes are designed to remind us that each event is a unique performance that deserves the public's attention and respect," the Olympics website says. "Spectators are invited to observe a moment of silence at the moment of the three blows, just like in the theatre."

Loading...

What’s that thumping sound in Paris? A dramatic new pre-game Olympics custom (2024)

FAQs

What’s that thumping sound in Paris? A dramatic new pre-game Olympics custom? ›

It's called the "three ground strikes" — or, les trois coups, s'il vous plait. It's a new, fittingly French, Olympics ritual that was introduced for the first time this year at the Paris Games. The custom is borrowed from an ages-old practice found on French performance stages.

What's with the stick at the Olympics? ›

In the Olympics, the stick is used to command the audience just like a brigadier would command their brigade in the navy. The brigadier is made from wood and wrapped in red velvet, which is attached to the stick by golden nails.

Why do they pound a stick at the Olympics? ›

But what of its use in athleticism today? The ritual is meant to leave fans with a little souvenir of French culture, bring together theater and sport, and to effectively tell the crowd: Silence — you're about to see a thrilling show.

What is the theme of the 2024 Paris Olympics? ›

Opening ceremony

Jolly stated that the ceremony would highlight notable moments in the history of France, with an overall theme of love and "shared humanity".

What's new at Paris Olympics? ›

The 2024 Paris Olympics will introduce fresh faces competing in some brand new sports this summer. Breaking, commonly referred to as break dancing, and kayak cross will make Olympic debuts in Paris this summer.

Do they give out free condoms at the Olympics? ›

The custom of giving out free condoms at the Olympic Village dates back to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as a means to protect athletes from the AIDS pandemic as well as encouraging safe sex, Mental Floss reported.

What is the long stick in Olympics? ›

Pole vault was one of the athletics events of the inaugural Olympic Games in 1896. Originally, poles were made of ash and from hickory wood. Bamboo poles were introduced in 1904, and both aluminum and steel poles appeared after 1945.

Why was Olympic lifting removed from the Olympics? ›

First, the sport is perpetually struggling with doping violations and the revocation of medals at major competitions. Second, the recognized international organization that governs the sport (the International Weightlifting Federation) has a very long history of bribery, financial mismanagement, and vote rigging.

Why do they carry a torch in the Olympics? ›

Throughout the Torch relay, the flame announces the Olympic Games and spreads a message of peace and friendship between peoples. The Torch relay ends at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The final runner (or sometimes runners) enters the stadium and lights the cauldron with the Olympic flame.

Do the Olympics bring in money? ›

As the costs of hosting have skyrocketed, revenues cover only a fraction of expenditures. Beijing's 2008 Summer Olympics generated $3.6 billion in revenue, compared with over $40 billion in costs, and Tokyo's delayed Summer Games generated $5.8 billion in revenue and $13 billion in costs.

How much will it cost to go to the Paris 2024 Olympics? ›

For the 2024 Paris Olympics, Iroanya's spending is the norm. International spectators can expect to pay at least $5,000 to attend—including hotel, airfare, and event ticket costs—, experts say, though pricing largely ranges depending on the accommodation choices of attendees.

What is the song for the Paris Olympics 2024? ›

Ahead of Paris 2024, The Coca-Cola Company has teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to celebrate the power of sport and music with a new song named 'Hello World'.

What new sport will not be added to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games? ›

Having made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, karate was not included in the 2024 Games. Baseball-softball has also been dropped for Paris but will return at Los Angeles 2028.

What sports have been removed from the Olympics in 2024? ›

With breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing all earning roster spots in the 2024 Paris Games, their promotion sadly means that multiple sports are getting the boot. Come July, three sports will be absent from the City of Light, including karate, softball and the heavy hitter, baseball.

Will Russia be in the Paris Olympics? ›

Russia and Belarus are not “banned” from the Olympics, as such, though they won't be in any team sports at the Paris Games.

Why was karate removed from the Olympics? ›

According to Reuters, karate was rejected from past Olympic bids because organizers said “the sport lacked entertainment value and the ability to attract a younger audience.”

What is the purpose of the tape on Olympic athletes? ›

Essentially, the increased flow can help prevent muscle cramps, spasms, and other common athletic injuries. Athletic tape is also unique in that it does not restrict the range of motion, allowing athletes to maintain their flexibility and comfort while exercising or competing.

What does it mean to carry the Olympic torch? ›

The Olympic flame symbolizes the light of spirit, knowledge and life. By passing the flame from one person to another in stages, the Torch Relay expresses the handing down of this symbolic fire from generation to generation.

Why is Snoop Dogg at the Olympics? ›

Snoop Dogg spent much of the 2024 Olympics contributing to NBC's Games coverage, and in proper form helped bring them to an end with a performance during the closing ceremony.

What is the sport with the stick and ball on ice? ›

Broomball started in Canada over a century ago and has been a fixture in the United States since the 1960s. A rink based sport, similar to Hockey, broomball is contested between two teams of 6 players (1 goalie and 5 runners) trying to use their stick to propel the ball into the opposing team's net.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Golda Nolan II

Last Updated:

Views: 5715

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Golda Nolan II

Birthday: 1998-05-14

Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

Phone: +522993866487

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.