sport in English
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France Paraguay – Golden Goal 1998
This Saturday, July 4th at 11 pm, following a series of impressive victories in the group stages, France plays Paraguay for a place in the last 8 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is not the first time that the two teams have met at this stage of the competition. It also happened 28 years ago during the 1998 World Cup which would make les Bleus world champions for the first time. I can still remember the winning goal very clearly. Laurent Blanc, who wasn't necessarily a player who scored goals, hit home the winner when nothing else had worked. I still carry the sense of the perfect timing…
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Sporting confrontations : war minus the shooting?
This next travel tale has a sporting flavour. A fight on a station platform at Greenwich between rival football supporters recalls George Orwell's connection between sport and war. What can this fight tell us about territory, identity and the sense of belonging in these war-driven times?
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Football, acting, tango – learning to think on your feet
Laurent de Chanterac's journey from football to tango reflects a life of transformation and adaptation, spanning several disciplines and learning methods. His experience, initially effortless in football but demanding in acting, signifies the evolving nature of personal development. His testimony combines physicality with education, emphasizing the importance of learning through encounters and practical engagement rather than conventional schooling. This narrative culminates in his dedication to teaching tango with partner Christine Caminade, encapsulating a philosophy of continuous personal growth and adaptation across varied life experiences.
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Tackle and scrum – learning to play rugby
How do people learn to play rugby? In my case, it was at school in England with John Davies, scrum half with London Welsh, who was also the PE teacher at my school. My learner's tale takes the form of two poems - both also available in audio versions.
