Unique diplomatic network action for the Games The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a unique opportunity to promote France, its regions and its values. That is why since the bid for Paris 2024, French diplomacy has fully supported this project. Sports diplomacy Published on : May 23rd 2025 Updated on : March 17th 2026 Dans cette rubrique The Ministry in action Action for peace and respect for human rights Action within the UN Security, Disarmament and Non-proliferation Emergency Humanitarian Action Protecting Human Rights Gender equality: a priority for France Commitment to international justice Digital Diplomacy Promoting a sovereign Europe The European Political Community Defence Europe France and the European Union European matters Promoting French businesses and France’s attractiveness Attracting foreign investment Attracting international students Destination France: The recovery and transformation plan for tourism Promoting French expertise in sport Supporting French exporters Supporting researchers and scientific cooperation globally The French Government’s Trade Policy Ensuring the presence of French culture Cultural Diplomacy Defending Francophonie and the French language Franco-German cooperation Supporting the cultural and creative industries Contributing to sustainable, balanced globalization Addressing the climate and environmental emergency Combating global social inequality External action of local government bodies Summits and global issues Regional strategies The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) is helping to organize this major sporting event and is playing a key role: from a consular perspective, by facilitating the issuance of visas for tens of thousands of Members of the Olympic and Paralympic Family; from a Protocol perspective, the Ministry is welcoming the many Heads of State and Government who have travelled to France for the Games. Over 100 such dignitaries attended the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on 26 July 2024. Almost 200 volunteer liaison officers are on hand to provide support and have the honour of demonstrating the expertise of French Protocol to their delegations; 150 embassies have joined the “Terre de Jeux 2024” programme, illustrating the enthusiasm and ambition of the diplomatic network for contributing to the success of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and sharing the project with the 2.5 million French people living abroad. Some 136 of these embassies – more than 80% of the French diplomatic network – organized an epic “Relay Around the World” on 14 March 2024: 24 hours of non-stop sport across the whole world! Taking place just weeks before the Games began, this event highlighted the efforts of the French diplomatic network and its determination to continue making sport central to our external action. #TerredeJeux2024 Sports diplomacy: what role does the Ministry play during major international sporting events?