“The most visible French representative, perhaps the most influential in the United States and perhaps in the world today”: This is how American historian and Francophile Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff describes Victor Wembanyama in an article for the channel CBS.
The former Metropolitans 92 is coming off a memorable season with the San Antonio Spurs averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks per game in 29.7 minutes. Crowned best rookie of the season in the NBA, Wemby was quite naturally selected by Vincent Collet to participate in the Paris Olympics.
Wemby: French is the most influential in the world?
If Victor Wembanyama is a sensation in France, the 2.21 m player has also become, on the other side of the Ocean, an essential popular figure.
“At the global level, Wemby is “Developing informal sports diplomacy (…) When he is one of the faces of the Olympic Games, it will become formal,” Krasnoff told CBS.
According to the Americans, the young basketball player, just 20 years old, will embody very strong French soft power internationally this summer. Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff goes even further by explaining:
“the Fifth Republic could not dream of a better representative of a modern, global France of the 21st century”. The American affirms that Victor Wembanyama is in a way the ideal son-in-law for France and its image. “He is what the French call well-mannered : well educated (…) He draws, he listens to classical music…”
For George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s head of fan engagement for Europe and the Middle East, Wembanyama’s presence has been more than a boon.
“It’s a divine gift. In France this season, the average television audience for NBA regular season games is up 23%, League Pass subscriptions are up 25% and the average weekly audience for the NBA app is up 25%. 68%. Wembanyama’s go-go-gadget dunk against the Boston Celtics on New Year’s Eve is the most viewed video ever posted on the NBA’s Instagram account. »
French journalist Olivier Pheulpin, who lives in the United States, is ironic about the influence of the phenomenon:
“It’s Mbappé. He’s at that level right now. (…) I think that if Victor wins the Olympic Games and the NBA title, he will end up becoming president of the country. Why not, one of these days? »
2024-05-25 14:07:03
#Americans #view #Victor #Wembanyamas #impact #Olympics
