What if the Olympics created a new French elite? For several decades, many actors and observers have criticized the famous French elite, the inner circle of people with fairly similar backgrounds who come from the same bodies that are too often out of touch with reality.
The incredible success of these Olympic Games illustrates the considerable strength of a broad and terribly efficient French sports ecosystem. With first and foremost young athletes from a good half of the diversity within our country and overseas territories. For example, the French judo team is undoubtedly one of the French symbols of a team that reaches the world summits of a youth mainly from diversity.
Most French athletes were trained in clubs (more than 160,000 exist in France). Without this unique network in the world, our results would not have been at this level. Sports volunteers, more than 3.5 million anonymous French people who accompany our young people, keep the clubs alive and undoubtedly represent the miracle of sport with an exceptional commitment. In the context of the Olympic Games, more than 45,000 volunteers brought enormous added value to the event, it is the soul of French sport. Finally, what can we say about the mayors, local elected officials, who devote a very significant part of their budget (2e city budgets) to sports and who bring French associative sport to life by knowing its impact on populations.
Sustainable footprint
This “sporting elite” deserves much more than temporary media exposure, however beautiful and joyful it may be. Today, it must take a strong place in the governing bodies where diversity and the place of women are still largely underrepresented.
It can invest widely in the national political field. Beyond sport, the players in the sector are truly resilient, many mayors are banking on sport to educate young people and bring their territory to life. Some federal officials have set up major projects for young people, such as judo with 1,000 dojos, table tennis with the multiplication of clubs, or sailing with the youth integration program. Former great champions who know how to take responsibility could become political leaders and participate in the renewal of part of the staff with affirmed values.
The exceptional nature of this unforgettable first fortnight of the Olympic Games cannot be limited to the observation of the medals alone. It is indeed a French sports culture that has produced an unprecedented result and without doubt millions of anonymous people are wearing some of our athletes’ medals. The Paralympic Games will not deny it. But there is still so much to do on dimensions such as people’s health, the inclusion of young people…
Great plan of youth
The exceptional spirit of the Olympic Games can project French society towards a new ambition and leave in the locker room the permanent criticism, the destructive incense, the political violence that we know too often… To continue on this path, a new ambition is necessary, France could start a major youth plan with the support of voluntary sports stakeholders and the ecosystem in connection with the field and the mayors at the very heart of the project. This plan could allow each young person to find their place and our country to build a new future.
The economic world could be the trigger for this great plan and take advantage of this exceptional momentum by supporting not just a few athletes but an entire committed sports youth. Thanks to their strong values, French companies in connection with sports volunteers could support young people towards employment. The banking sector, for example, has already initiated this commitment with very good results.
Business impact
Finally, how to integrate great sports leaders as well as great coaches into important functions in companies, administrations, government services by bringing the collective spirit, the dynamics of winning. This new social performance of sport could tomorrow be part of the impact of French companies which would undoubtedly be unique throughout the world.
For our Olympic Games to contribute to a new collective national narrative that carries a strong and generous ambition around youth for our nation, we need it so much. If we want to give it a second wind, the legacy must be built today with unprecedented alliances between public, private and associative actors.
It’s time for action!
The signatories of the platform:
Jean-Philippe Acensi is president of the Agency for Education through Sport (Apels).
Axel Clerget is an Olympic judo champion in Tokyo.
Gil Averous is president of Villes de France, mayor of Châteauroux.
Valerie Letard is a member of parliament for the North.
Stephane Viry is a member of parliament for Vosges.
Sebastian Nolesini is the general director of the Judo Federation.
Philippe Lamblin is vice-president of AG2R La Mondiale, former president of the Athletics Federation.
Maya Atig is the general director of the French Banking Association.
Gilles Erb is president of the French Table Tennis Federation.
Benoit Jimenez is mayor of Garges-lès-Gonesse and regional advisor for the Île de France region on inclusion through sport.
Sarah Ourahmoune is Olympic boxing vice-champion.
Catherine Touvrey is the general manager of Harmonie Mutuelle.
Serge Magdelaine is the general manager of LCL.
