ABSTRACT
Although the official languages of the Olympic Games are English and French, on the ground the Games are a site of interaction between individuals with diverse profiles. In this sense, the Games can be considered ‘superdiverse’ events that feature a range of bottom-up linguistic practices of individuals who communicate in person and via media technologies across the globe. This chapter examines the gap between Olympic language policies and practices by accounting for historical perspectives on the Olympic Games, examining specific recent cases, and identifying areas for future work.
