An Ile-de-France resident in charge of music at the SDF, “crucial for grabbing the attention of the public”

“There are 478 days left before the opening ceremony of the Olympics [de Paris 2024] “says Sala Cissé, consulting the count he has installed on his computer. From the helm of the J-500, the pressure intensifies for this Seine-et-Marnais which will ensure the musical programming of the athletics events during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. From the qualifications to the finals, without forgetting the medal ceremonies, no celebration will be deprived of its music. Stressed, but proud to represent his department during this highly anticipated competition, this Francilien is not in his turn to warm up.

For thirteen years, he has regularly hosted sports competitions, political think tanks, conferences and even military ceremonies. He was even hired to provide musical entertainment for the athletics events at the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo. “A real challenge since it was necessary to set the mood in a 110,000-seat stadium, completely empty [à cause des restrictions sanitaires] “, he remembers.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the challenge will be quite different. By “playing at home”, he exposes himself to the eyes of his family, his wife and his children, but also to that of the officials of the Federation who have placed their trust in him. “I absolutely do not want to disappoint them,” he says.

The sound to hook the viewer

If the musical programming is not necessarily what we retain most of a sporting event, Sala Cissé affirms that it “is crucial to focus the attention of the public. Especially since in recent years, this type of competition is more and more show. “Put victory music on each successful high jump or a low sound when the tension is at its height, at the start of the 100 meters… The important thing is to “find what works” to dramatize what is happening on the field, hook the public, and transform the sporting event into a party.

“And above all you must not get the wrong national anthem at the time of the medal ceremony, to prevent stupidity from creating diplomatic worries”, jokes, but halfway, the forty-year-old. These ceremonies remain “particularly cheesy”. Olympic anthem, then national anthem of the country of each rewarded athlete are de rigueur. His musical creativity will be expressed during the animation of sporting events, for which he has carte blanche.

An opportunity for the programmer to have fun, by listening to his favorite groups such as Riot or Zedd. Sala Cissé is even thinking of taking the opportunity to discover a musician friend, who has lost his motivation, to encourage him to get back on the job.

Promoting French musical heritage

In agreement with the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (Cojo), Sala Cissé wishes to highlight the French musical heritage during the competitions, while composing “with what is done today”. A lot of mixing work will therefore be necessary to broadcast the best-known music of Johnny Hallyday, Edith Piaf or even Jacques Brel, between two electro sounds. “Above all, there will be a great deal of improvisation,” he assures us. We will do tests the first days, especially in the morning, to see what takes or does not take in the public ”.

Succeeding in such a challenge is a matter of performance, not athletic but physical all the same. “At the end of some sessions, I’m completely flushed,” he says. At the slightest technical fault, you have to be very reactive while dealing with nervousness. The enthusiast plans to use the remaining 478 days to improve. This summer, he is hosting the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, which take place over two weeks, under conditions similar to those of the Olympics. “It’s going to be my practice. »

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