logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
20m 9s

Can the Olympics cure France’s malaise?

Financial Times
About this episode

Despite some early setbacks the Paris Olympics is proving a big success. The French have set aside their initial doubts and are enjoying a breather from the disagreements that have torn apart the political classes. Gideon asks Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director of Le Monde, how long the truce can last. Clips: BBC


To take part in the audience survey mentioned by Gideon, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.


Follow Gideon on X @gideonrachman


Free links to read more on this topic:

Olympics organisers apologise as risqué ceremony sparks backlash

Inside France’s Olympic medals factory

A bold leap towards a leaner and greener Olympics

Fake Games, cyber threats and disinformation: Russia reacts to sporting isolation


Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.

Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The cockroach rebellion in India
What began as outrage over a senior judge's comments has become one of the most striking youth protest movements India has seen in years. Gideon talks to Professor Mukulika Banerjee of the London School of Economics about why so many young Indians have taken to the streets, what ... Show More
30m 55s
Jul 30
The weaponisation of trade
Tariffs, sanctions and chokepoints have become the weapon of choice to punish political rivals - but what happens when these fail? Gideon discusses the impact of geopolitical disputes on global trade with Edward Fishman, author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economi ... Show More
31m 8s
Jul 23
Does Nato have a future without US leadership?
Gideon talks to Julianne Smith, former US ambassador to Nato about the future of the alliance. There seems to be greater transatlantic agreement on Ukraine, but tensions remain over Europe’s stance on Donald Trump’s war on Iran. So can the alliance survive without the US at the h ... Show More
28m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Olympics: Is Paris poised for success?
France is grappling with climate, security and political turmoil as the Games officially begin. So what’s the mood on the streets of Paris? Will this be the “greenest” Olympics and Paralympics ever, as organisers have promised? And could the Games offer a lifeline to President Em ... Show More
25m 16s
Jul 2024
France is in turmoil. Will the Olympics be okay?
<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Last week, France was preparing for the possibility of its first far-right government since World War II. Now, it faces a political crossroads, just weeks before the Olympics kick off in Paris.</span></p><p><spa ... Show More
32m 28s
Jul 2024
The highs and lows of a very... French Olympics
<p>The Olympics is underway and Jules and Jez are glued to the couch. So what does the Olympics tell us about winning, losing and politics? And in a plot twist that could be straight out of the tv drama Succession,  Rupert Murdoch is locked in a legal dispute with his kids.</p> 
31 m
Apr 2024
Paris Olympics 2024: The make or break year for the Games?
This summer Paris will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time in a century. Excitement in the city is growing, but so is the list of problems facing organisers. Critics have warned that the river Seine is too polluted for the planned swimming competitions, and s ... Show More
24m 47s
Aug 2024
What happens after an Olympics?
The Olympics in Paris ends this weekend – as it gears up for the Paralympics. But what legacy does such a huge event leave for athletes and a host city?    Team GB's Jess Roberts won a bronze in the cycling women's team pursuit, but she almost quit the sport because of injury. Sh ... Show More
18m 47s
Aug 2024
301. Question Time: Iran’s retaliation, Labour "press bias" and an Olympic hangover
Is the press softer on Labour? How left-wing would a Harris/Walz government be? Was MI5 aware of crimes committed by a British agent? And how should France cash in on the Olympic hype? TRIP Plus:  Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our ... Show More
35m 25s