The new Olympiad has really begun for the French National Olympic and Sports Committee. Two weeks after the re-election for 4 years of Denis Masseglia as president, the institution held its first Board of Directors meeting on Thursday June 6. The result was a new executive office, with a composition quite similar to that of the previous one, the appointment of a chef de mission for the Rio 2016 Games, Francis Luyce, and a state of mind judged by those involved to be "united and solidarity”. As a road captain more determined than ever, Denis Masseglia answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : Is this new Olympiad starting like the previous one for the CNOSF?
Denis Masseglia: No, not at all. Four years ago, I was elected to the presidency following an election in which there were four candidates. It was therefore necessary to unite and bring together. This time, the context is different. I have the feeling of a desire by all stakeholders to validate the proposals of the management team, regarding the composition of the office, the commissions and the names of the representatives. Everyone understood the need to be united and united. This new mandate begins with a sports movement in working order, with a Board of Directors which has shown its unity. A Board of Directors where representatives of three of the biggest Olympic sports occupy vice-presidential positions: Bernard Amsalem for athletics, also in charge of relations with National Education, Francis Luyce for swimming, Michel Vion for skiing.
What’s next on your roadmap?
We are going to bring together the main players in the French sports movement for a two-day seminar, on July 3 and 4, 2013. An important step, because it will involve setting up the main axes of the CNOSF's political and sporting project. A very important step, from which new momentum will come for the French sports movement.
Bernard Lapasset was beaten by Marius Vizer for the presidency of SportAccord at the end of May in Saint Petersburg. What does this electoral defeat of a man now at the head of the international strategy of French sport inspire you?
We can look at this defeat in two ways. The first is to say that this is yet another failure for France internationally. The second, which I prefer, highlights the courage of Bernard Lapasset in having responded to the requests of a certain number of people in the world sports movement, including several members of the IOC, and in having launched into the very late, facing an adversary who had been preparing his case for two years. He was beaten, certainly, but with an honorable score. But this failure also demonstrates that ideas are not enough to win. We need a currency of exchange. And there, we are too helpless. French sport lacks the means to conclude alliances where both parties have something to gain. Our international strategy must be organized around this need to provide ourselves with a currency of exchange.
The new CNOSF management team
Denis Masseglia: President
Jean-Michel Brun: General secretary
Jean-Jacques Mulot: Treasurer
Françoise Sauvageot: deputy vice-president, in charge of diversity of practices and associative life
Jean-Pierre Mougin: deputy vice-president, in charge of employment, training and qualification
Jean-Luc Rougé: deputy vice-president, in charge of high level
Jean-Pierre Siutat: deputy vice-president, in charge of territoriality
Were also designated vice-presidents: Isabelle Séverino, Michel Vion, Bernard Amsalem, Francis Luyce (chef de mission at the Rio 2016 Games)
