Trophies promote French language, culture, diversity
Following numerous cities around the world – namely Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Amiens, Beirut, New York, Ottawa and Paris – Athens welcomes «Les Trophees de la Langue Francaise» (French language awards), a television show presented by Bernard Pivot for TV5. Diversity A 90-minute broadcast featuring a live audience, «Les Trophees de la Langue Francaise» promotes the diversity and richness of the French language worldwide. During the shows, participants are awarded prizes for their efforts in song, poetry, translation and cultural diversity. One of the highlights of the Trophees is the international dictation competition. Popular among high school and university students, the competition is aimed at those who enjoy risktaking and for whom French is not their mother tongue. Winners from each country are subsequently invited to participate in the finals which take place in Paris. One year after Greece’s adherence to the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), the country is hosting the Trophees. Last Friday, the first part of the dictation competition was conducted in Thessaloniki (with 100 students ranging from 14 to 20 years old) in collaboration with the city’s French Institute. Today, the Athenian leg of the competition is organized in collaboration with OIF and will take place at the Athens Concert Hall with the participation of 300 young people. Sponsoring the event is Geniki Bank, a member of the Societe Generale group. «Les Trophees de la Langue Francais» are organized by France’s ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs, the Mission Laique Francaise, the Alliances Francaises network, TV5 Monde, Radio France and the Association of National Francophone Radios.
