A few weeks before the start of the Olympic Games, French athletes have not yet received their official outfits. Their supplier assures that everything will go smoothly. We take stock.
In just under a month, the best French athletes will compete against those from around the world to win as many medals as possible at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. And for the past few weeks, the organizing committee has been gradually revealing the secrets of this grandiose event. The general public has discovered the official colors of the games (pink and turquoise blue), the opening ceremony, the look of the volunteers and several other aspects. But one of them, which is surely one of the most important, remains unclear.
While their tricolor design was unveiled last March, the official outfits of the French delegation may not be delivered in time for the Games. It is the French brand Le Coq Sportif that was chosen in 2020 to equip French athletes, with the exception of football and athletics, on the podiums and in competition, as well as in the Olympic village. It must also dress officials and referees. In total, 150,000 pieces are expected for the Olympic Games. But, after meeting with the company’s executives on May 30, 2024, the president of the Olympic committee, David Lappartient, noted “a little bit late” in the delivery of certain equipment.
The extension of the deadlines would have two very different reasons. First of all: the selection of athletes. Because to produce the custom outfits of the athletes, it is already necessary to know which ones will be selected to participate in the competition. As a reminder, the qualifications of certain disciplines will not be official until a few days before the launch of the Games. The second reason is financial. The Swiss investment holding company Airesis, which holds 78% of the shares of Le Coq Sportif, announced a loss of 37 million euros in 2023. Le Coq Sportif, which has 363 employees including 147 in its factory in Romilly-sur-Seine in Aube, had seen its turnover drop by more than 28.25 million euros. These drops in revenue had led to a delay in payment of production. But the problem should be able to be resolved, because the French equipment manufacturer announced on July 1, 2024, that it had obtained a loan of more than 2 million euros from the organizing committee of the Games. This financial support could well save the company and ensure the delivery of the outfits on time for the athletes. Answer on July 26!