The Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are in full swing. Recently, three Guangzhou natives living and working in Paris, each participating in the Olympics in different capacities—some as volunteers, others as spectators—shared their own Olympic stories with journalists.

Through their eyes, we gain a more multidimensional view of the Olympics.

Wu Junlong, a graduate of Guangzhou University , went to France in 2013 to pursue a master's degree through a China-France cooperative program. He stayed in France for work afterward. Having previously volunteered for the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France, he eagerly signed up again to volunteer for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This time, Wu was assigned to work at the hotel hosting the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He was particularly impressed by the sponsorship of the IOC by two Chinese clothing brands. Seeing numerous Chinese brand advertisements at Olympic venues and other major events made him feel a strong sense of familiarity and pride.

Guo Yiluo, a graduate of South China Normal University , is currently studying at KU Leuven in Belgium . She traveled from Belgium to Paris specifically to volunteer for the Olympics. Assigned to the swimming venue's media center, she couldn't watch the events live. Therefore, she kept track of the competitions on large screens, providing timely updates to the media. "I met a United States journalist who spoke to me in Chinese, saying he is learning the language and will be cheering for the Chinese team!" she shared.

Zhou Jiongzhen, a graduate of the High School Affiliated to Guangzhou University, went on to study international marketing at the Paris School of Business. He now oversees business development in the Asian market for a French luxury group's travel retail division.

Zhou takes pride in the many "Made in China" elements at the Olympics—from the LED screens along the Seine River to the table tennis tables and chips in judo mats.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations. Having lived in France for many years, Zhou has observed the warming of exchanges between the two countries: "France now encourages young people to travel and study in China. Many locals are learning Chinese, and in many French private schools, students choose English as their second language and Chinese as their third. Chinese culture is so profound that French people are very interested in it, but they need a medium to understand and learn more about it. The government now arranges many exchange activities, and grassroots social media also play a significant role in providing numerous avenues for the French to learn about Chinese culture."

Zhou has noticed a trend in his work: more Chinese brands are willing to expand to the French market, where they can also learn from the French about managing century-old brands, including design and marketing. For Chinese brands, the entry into the French market and the integration into local culture also presents a unique challenge.