before Paris 2024, show that there is only one French team

5 mins

With the summer sun still shining in Paris this Sunday, October 7, Paralympic Day once again set down at Place de la République in a family atmosphere. With the primary ambition, obviously, to “ create encounters with the general public. Ensuring that French people, at the Paris Games, know Paralympic sports and their athletes and are fully behind them », in the words of Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee for the 2024 Olympic Games.

To do this, what could be better for the French representatives who will perform between August 28 and September 8 than to show their belonging to one and the same, united French team. Many champions punctuated the day with their presence, from Perle Bouge (para rowing) to Ugo Didier (para swimming). But the Paralympic athletes were not alone. Some Olympic figures came to give their time to make their contribution. Sasha Zhoya, rising figure in French athletics, and Alain Bernard, former swimming star, to name but a few, showed their faces.

At the para judo stand, where children try their hand at first holds and falls blindfolded, to find themselves in the shoes of blind martial artists, we are delighted. Nathan Petit first. Firstly because the atmosphere is there and “ the children are doing really well, they play the game », smiles the judoka, bronze medalist at the last world championships. But also because this joyful mix of French athletes has its little effect. “ This is also an important point, to create a single team between the Olympic and Paralympic teams. It’s important to us », confides Nathan Petit.

Emmanuel Macron puts on the show before the ticket office opens

A little further, Arnaud Assoumani, gold medalist long jumper in Beijing in 2008, caught in midair after a photo and signing session with some young (and not so young) visitors, will not contradict his peers. He, who will experience his sixth Paralympic Games in the summer of 2024, has seen the French team evolve. With an invariable: “ For us, between athletes, there has never been any difference, we are a united French team. This is the strength of the France team. »

“ The message is super importantcontinues Assoumani. Olympic athletes simply bring visibility. To highlight, to overcome certain taboos that there may be, certain stereotypes or certain fears. There is a before and after Paralympic day for some visitors. »

Around noon, a crowd forms around the wheelchair basketball court. The swimmer Théo Curin, who hosted a shooting competition whose winners grabbed the first spectator places for the Paralympic Games, gives way to Emanuel Macron. The President of the Republic came to try his luck under the basket, against Tony Estanguet’s team, under the eyes of a few cameras.

A well-conducted communication operation, which reminds us that this day is also the day before the ticketing for the Paralympic fortnight kicks off, with half of the tickets priced at less than 25 euros. “ With our Paralympic Games less than a year away, I really want to encourage our compatriots to buy tickets “, launched Emmanuel Macron, barely started by a few minutes of wheelchair basketball, which still snatched a “ Respect because it’s hard ! “. Probably the fault of a nice “air ball”, on a first shot attempt that was a little too far away.

A final tour to discover more unknown disciplines, such as boccia, a ball sport related to pétanque, the subtleties of which are explained by the different members of the French team. Or para weightlifting, demonstrated under a small marquee, where Julien Avom Mbume explains to young teenagers how to lift an empty barbell in the bench press while completely lying down. Bar on which it can easily load more than 150 kilos.

In a corner, a discreet poster indicates that the French Federation is still looking for referees in this discipline for the Games, a small reminder in the midst of this excitement that most of these athletes do not yet benefit from structures commensurate with their work. It remains to be seen whether the Paris 2024 train truly brings investments and ideas for the long term into its wagons.