For the moment, we mainly hear from those who are disappointed not to be able to be, or who are not interested in the position that much. Nothing unusual, the race to be the flag bearer of the French delegation during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has only just begun. The Federations have until May 31 to submit the names of the candidate athletes to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), which will then organize the vote to designate the lucky ones – a man and a woman.
Two-speed lobbying?
However, behind the scenes, things are already happening. Being a flag bearer at the Olympics is seen as an honor, a symbolic reward for one’s achievements for French sport, so for a Games at home, this feeling is increased tenfold. You only have to look at the reactions to the announcement of the criteria established by the CNOSF last month to realize how sensitive the subject can be. Some big names have not hidden their disappointment, even their anger, like Clarisse Agbegnenou, who cannot claim it because she has already fulfilled the function in Tokyo.
Exit also the athletes who have never participated in the Games, such as Antoine Dupont or Victor Wembanyama, and those who do not meet the criteria of “exemplarity and respect for Olympic values”, such as Nikola Karabatic, convicted in 2017 in a Paris affair. If the triple Olympic champion, the greatest winner in French co-sport, has assured not to take umbrage, just like his Federation president Philippe Bana, others are taking care of it for him. “That he can’t be, I really don’t understand,” protests the boss of judo, Stéphane Nomis. An emblem like him… Even seen from home, he is the figure of the great champion. He served his sentence a long time ago, it’s over, let’s move on. »
The president of the FFJ is one of the leaders who really take this subject to heart. Beyond the criteria laid down, which therefore sideline Agbegnenou but also Teddy Riner (flag bearer in 2016), he regrets the voting method. This year and for the first time, each of the 560 to 565 qualified athletes will be able to vote. “In athletics they have 70, we have 14,” he illustrates. The idea is laudable, but in my opinion it creates an injustice. It will be easier for some than others to lobby. »
Factually, Stéphane Nomis is not wrong, but we can assume that certain applications transcend disciplines. Nikola Karabatic, for example, would imagine Renaud Lavillenie or Florent Manaudou in the role. The first is in his Fédé’s little papers, just like Kevin Mayer.
“The problem is that they do not yet have their qualification in hand, and therefore have other priorities at the moment. We will discuss it with them at the appropriate time,” observes President André Giraud, who has more certainties regarding his candidate. “Mélina Robert-Michon really stands out from the crowd. She will compete in her seventh Games [un record], she was a medalist, she is 44 years old, is the mother of two children… She is truly a symbol of women’s sport, she greatly deserves it. We will help him. » The influence game has started.
Concerning Manaudou, the only French swimmer to have won three individual medals in three different Olympics, he already made it known a few weeks ago that he was applying, but he does not intend to go around to the kitchens to convince everyone either. “I don’t like it at all,” he explained in West France. If the athletes find that I embody these values of Olympism, self-sacrifice and surpassing oneself, it is with great pleasure that I will do so. But I will not campaign. My goal is the Olympics. »
An argument that comes up often, and not only in the mouths of athletes. Their leaders are also very careful to ensure that this election does not interfere with preparation or performance on D-Day. “I exchange being a flag bearer for a gold medal,” summarizes the DTN of boxing, Mehdi Nichane. He has two ready-made candidates, Estelle Mossely and Sofiane Oumiha, medalists in Rio and very respected. He will “support” them in this quest, while not forgetting his “duty to advise”: “We must not lose sight of the priority objective, which is to perform. Running several hares at once can be complicated. There is the risk of leaving too much juice there and paying for it later in competition. »
The question of timing in relation to entry into the running
No need to go back far to find traces of a flag bearer who passed by, between Jackson Richardson in 2004, Tony Estanguet in 2008 or Laura Flessel in 2012. “Being a flag bearer at the Olympics is everyone’s dream sportsmen. So they will go to coal at some point to defend their candidacy, worries Stéphane Nomis. It’s going to take a lot of energy to do this campaign, they’re going to leave some juice for their training. As if they didn’t have enough pressure. »
The judo boss can, however, count on a certain know-how, which he does not hesitate to highlight:
“ “If we look at judo as the standard bearer since 2000, it wins every time (David Douillet, Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbegnenou)! It’s important to say it, he recalls, smiling. It’s a lot of pressure for athletes, and not everyone can handle it. » »
He sees Romane Dicko as the ideal suitor. “She is an Olympic medalist, world champion, world number 1, and above all she really exudes something strong,” he praises. She is caring, she is a joy of living, she carries symbols. This is a heavy one, we are in a generation where people of diversity are frowned upon. Here, heavyweights can become super champions, it’s a great message. »
OUR PARIS 2024 JO FILE
Each Federation has its own little tips for preparing its champions, personalized support or discussions with former standard bearers, for example. There remains an a priori rule common to all: no application if you enter the track early in the fortnight. This concerns potential strong applicants like Léon Marchand, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Wendie Renard, Luka Mkheidze or Nicolas Batum. Some authorities do not yet seem to care, at least if we are to believe the silence opposed by basketball and swimming to our numerous requests, while others like cycling do not even know if they will bring up applications.
The list will in any case be revealed around mid-June, then the athletes’ vote will take place after the last selection commission, on July 5. There will then be a little less than three weeks to prepare for the big night.