The exercise has become a ritual. Since 2020, FrancsJeux rewinds the film of the last twelve months at the end of each year to mark the moments, the actors and the instances which have dominated the news, in one way or another.

Unlike most sports movement rankings, the formula changes from one year to the next.

In 2020, the ranking of the most influential French speakers in the Olympic movement recognized Christophe Dubi, the executive director of the Olympic Games at the IOC.

The following year, the trophies for the 2021 vintage were notably awarded to Tony Estanguet, elected man of the year, and a Franco-Japanese duo composed of Brigitte Henriques, first woman president of the French Olympic Committee, and Seiko Hashimoto , the president of Tokyo 2020, nominated by the jury to share the title of woman of the year.

Another change of direction last year. FrancsJeux distributed its ten favorites at the end of a year dominated by the Beijing Winter Games and the conflict in Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, the solidarity of the Olympic movement with Ukraine won the day, ahead of FIFA's designation of Frenchwoman Stéphanie Frappart as the first female referee to officiate in the final phase of a football World Cup.

For 2023, the formula remains unique. For this last year before the Paris 2024 Games, the editorial staff of FrancsJeux has compiled a list of the ten moments that seemed most memorable to him between January and December. Ten highlights which, for one reason or another, will remain underlined with a thick line when the time comes to take stock.

The selection was submitted, as every year, to an international jury* made up of journalists, partners, managers and experts, all experts in the Olympic movement. Their vote made it possible to establish a ranking.

At the end of a year where the IOC sometimes surprised everyone, and where FIFA lifted the suspense over the host countries of two successive editions of the Men's World Cup, the leading trio reflects the positions of the two major bodies of the sports movement.

In the lead, the decision of the IOC Executive Board to retain the French Alps, only the French Alps, to continue the race for the 2030 Winter Games in the so-called “phase of targeted dialogue ». Six years after Paris 2024, France will once again host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A scenario that seemed impossible a year ago.

In second place, Saudi Arabia is the only candidate for the Football World Cup in 2034. Due to a lack of competition, the Gulf kingdom is sure to win. Here too, the event seemed difficult to imagine at the very beginning of the year.

The leading trio is completed by the decision of the IOC Executive Board, announced at the end of March, to recommend to international federations to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian athletes into international competitions under neutral status. The Olympic body took a further step, in December, by authorizing their participation in the Paris 2024 Games.

The classification of FrancsJeux of the ten notable moments of the year 2023:

1. The French Alps selected by the IOC to continue the targeted dialogue alone for the 2030 Winter Games

2 – Saudi Arabia, the only candidate to host the World Cup in 2034

3 – The IOC Executive Board recommends that international federations reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes

4 – The 2030 World Cup awarded by FIFA to six countries – Spain, Portugal and Morocco, plus Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay – on three continents

5 – Cricket, flag football, lacrosse, baseball/football and squash chosen as additional sports at the LA 2028 Games

6 – The announcement by the IOC of the upcoming launch of the eSports Olympic Games

7 – The arrival of LVMH as a premium partner of the COJO Paris 2024

8 – The creation of World Boxing, a new international federation for Olympic boxing

9 – The first convictions in the Tokyo 2020 Games corruption scandal

10 – Michelle Yeoh, first Oscar-winning actress elected member of the IOC

*The jury of FrancsJeux : Alan Abrahamson (3 Wire Sports – United States), Thierry Borra (international expert – France), Antoine Chinès (Sports event territories – France), Mélanie Duparc (World Union of Olympic Cities – Switzerland) – Pierre Galy (AFP – France), Tharcisse Harerimana (journalist – Burundi), Ed Hula (journalist – United States), Marie Jaillant (Global Sports Week – France), Sylvie Le Maux (Alliance francophone d’escrime – France), Alain Lunzenfichter (World Association of Olympic journalists – France), Alain Mercier (FrancsJeux – France), Julien Montel (Spartner – France), Elise Morel (Olbia Conseil – France), Arthus Pierrette (2023 World Para Athletics Championships – France), Rachel Pretti (L’Equipe – France), Jean-Pierre Siutat ( French-speaking Association of National Olympic Committees – France), Severine Townsend (JTA – Great Britain), Philippe Vande Weyer (Le Soir – Belgium), Giulia Zonca (La Stampa, Italy).