Gala evening, Saturday June 13, on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku. On the second day of the European Games, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) invited the international sports movement to a restaurant on the Boulevard, pompously named Little Venice. An establishment located in the heart of the Hospitality Club, the most exclusive and social venue of the European Games (our photo).
The evening was intended to be international. She was. The CNOSF hoped it would be very busy. He was not disappointed. Between 21 p.m. and midnight, a very respectable battalion of personalities from the Olympic movement crowded the two levels of the restaurant. The bench and the back bench of decision-makers in international sport.
At the top of the list, Thomas Bach. The IOC President arrived among the first. Relaxed, smiling, French-speaking. In a word, perfect. At his side, Patrick Hickey, the president of the European Olympic Committees (EOC). Smiling too, a little less French-speaking, despite the presence on his arm of his wife of Lyon origin.
Among the audience, an impressive number of IOC members. A good fifteen, representing a wide range of nationalities. The tangible and indisputable proof of the success of the evening. Let us cite, in bulk, the British Craig Reedie, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the Swiss Denis Oswald, the American Anita DeFrantz, the German Claudia Bokel, president of the athletes' commission, the Ukrainian Sergei Bubka, the Prince Albert of Monaco, the Swede Gunilla Lindberg, the Ivorian Lassana Palenfo, and of course the Frenchman Tony Estanguet. Also note, among other personalities, the South Korean Chungwon Choue, president of the International Taekwondo Federation.
Denis Masseglia, president of the CNOSF and master of ceremonies, opened the speeches by emphasizing France's support for the European Games and the IOC Agenda 2020. Thierry Braillard, Secretary of State for Sports, spoke of the importance of sustainable development, a point discussed at length that morning during the meeting of European sports ministers in Baku. Patrick Hickey thanked the French sports movement for sending a strong delegation to Azerbaijan, one of the largest at the event with 251 athletes.
Then Thomas Bach spoke. And he put on a show. In perfect French, the IOC President recalled France's historic role in the Olympic movement, since Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the origins of the Games. Above all, he mentioned in his own way, indirectly but with humor, a subject that everyone had until then carefully avoided: the 2024 Games and the Paris candidacy. “I understand that France has started these European Games well,” said Thomas Bach. And if I believe the rumor, another good news could soon be announced. You know, I sometimes listen to rumors. Especially when I like them! » Great art.
