Have you been swept up in the Olympic fever? With athletes from 206 different countries converging on Paris, their perseverance, teamwork and will to win are bound to inspire you.

While you might not be setting world records on the track, we can help you channel the inspiration into gold medal results in your own life. Here are some ways that your time spent watching the Olympics could be the catalyst to learning new skills with the CAE:

The world’s eyes are on Paris

Nothing showcases a city like the Olympics. For over two weeks, the world’s attention is focused squarely on one city.

Paris is one of the planet’s grandest and most storied cities, which has been on show during the 2024 Olympics. No doubt the shots of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe are making you desperate to book your next trip there as soon as you can.

When you’re booking your flights, book yourself into a CAE French language class at the same time. Our French for Travellers course is designed for complete beginners, to prepare you for any potential interactions you’ll have on your trip. If you want to take a more comprehensive approach to learning the language, our French: Elementary 1 course is for you. You can study it with us in-person or online !

Booking an international trip is easier said than done. If you need a simpler way to indulge your Olympic-inspired wanderlust, why not explore more of Melbourne? We have a range of cultural and historical walking tours that will show you a side of the city that you’ve never seen before.

The Olympics are steeped in history

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, and there have been 30 Summer Olympic Games since in 21 different cities. However, the first recorded Olympic Games were held in Olympia in 776 B.C., and it is generally accepted that the Olympics were at least 500 years old at that time.

If you’ve enjoyed this brief history lesson, you’ll certainly enjoy the range of history courses at the CAE. With the focus on France, why not dig into the country’s history under the Bonaparte rule? Or if you would like to stick closer to home, you can explore Australian painters and poets in the 1930s.

The Olympics are about personal achievement

Despite the beautiful locations and rich history, what has made the Olympics such a global institution are the stories of athletes overcoming the odds to achieve greatness in their field.

Everywhere you look, there are inspiring stories of athletes from all over the world, and their single-minded dedication to their craft. They’re a great source of inspiration to get the most out of yourself, no matter your line of work or interests.

We can help you harness that inspiration with a range of professional development courses like Effective Cross-Cultural CommunicationLeadership Skills for New and Emerging Leaders and Project Management Fundamentals .

The world’s most watched event

Worldwide, nothing draws people to their television like the Olympics. The past 2 Summer Olympics have had over 3 billion viewers each, and it is predicted that the Paris Games could be the most watched TV event in 8 years.

If you’ve been glued to the TV watching the Games, you might have found yourself analysing the broadcast and the advertisements as much as the Olympic action itself. It can be fascinating to think about how video packages are created and edited before they’re put in front of an audience. With our range of filmmaking and editing short courses, you can learn the process, skills and techniques you need to create your own videos.

The Summer Olympic Games may only come around every 4 years, but our range of short courses are available year-round. Discover and enrol in your new specialty now!