In the three-month lead-up to the Paris Games, the Australian Olympic Committee has worked closely with the French Embassy in Australia and the Australian Embassy in France to help almost 12,000 students across both countries connect with almost 500 classes – both across Australia and in the majority of provinces in France.
These connections between students – online and via correspondence – create the potential for lifelong friendships across the globe and bring both nations closer together.
Amis 2024 encourages students to connect with their peers internationally and is an opportunity for students to discover the Olympic movement, while uniting youth internationally to celebrate the Olympic spirit.
The ‘Amis 2024′ (French for ‘Friends 2024’) program invited students aged 12 to 15 years to foster lasting friendships and relationships between Australian and French students. You can download the Amis 2024 report from EducationDaily.
Forging cross-cultural connections
Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll praised the efforts of all involved in the program and was keen to continue to connect with nations in the lead up to future Games.
“This program is an excellent example of how the power of sport can draw two nations closer. Amis has successfully leveraged the values of the Olympic movement to build international relationships and connect youth in a truly meaningful way,” says Carroll.
“The Australian Olympic Committee thank the Australian Embassy in France, the French Embassy in Australia, and the French Government for helping bring the program to life.”
“This is the second time we’ve run the connect program and we’ve seen it connect youth in Australia to students in Japan for the Tokyo Games and in France for the Paris Games. Building strong relationships with youth across the world is critically important and helps to build greater cultural understanding and build a better future.”
Creating lifelong friendships
The French Ambassador to Australia Pierre-André Imbert believes the program plays an important role in strengthening ties between youth in the two nations.
“This program has created a really important connection between the youth of both nations, and it is something we would like to continue into the future.”
“It has been a pleasure working on this program with the Australian Olympic Committee. I know that connecting cultures through sport and bringing together teachers and students from across the world has built a lasting relationship between France and Australia.”
“Amis 2024 truly embodies the Olympic spirit, and it would be great to see the schools within this great program remain linked and their cultural connection maintained.”
Australia’s Ambassador to France, Gillian Bird says the array of schools that participated in the initiative made strong connections.
“The Australian Embassy in France was excited to see the breadth of the Amis program and enthusiasm that both Australian and French school showed in embracing this cross-cultural initiative,” she says.
Sport is such an incredible driver of social connection and has an extraordinary ability to build bridges between different peoples and cultures. The outcomes of this program will create a cultural connection between Australia and France that will last for generations and that is something we can all be very proud of.”
Boosting language learning
For secondary school teacher Talitha McReaddie-Sawley, from Scone Grammar School, the experience of being part of the program “motivated and engaged my students in their language learning, and many of them are working very hard on maintaining the connections they have fostered with their French friends”.
“We have learnt so much and have had so much fun connecting through letters, audio recordings and videos with our friends in France,” says McReaddie-Sawley.
“I have also loved the opportunity to work with and get to know some French colleagues and have created strong connections which will endure beyond the Connect Amis program and continue to contribute to my classroom in wonderful ways.”
