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The World Ahead | Europe in 2024

France will unify for sport but not for politics

The Paris 2024 Olympics will briefly pause the polarising politics

Illustration: Alvaro Bernis

By Sophie Pedder

The year 2024 will be when Emmanuel Macron seeks to re-establish his leadership in Europe, and France begins to look ahead to the race to succeed him. Both will take place against the backdrop of the Paris Olympics, which will serve as a global showcase for France and a test of its ability to come together as a nation at a fractious and volatile time.

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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2024 under the headline “Spectator sport”

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