The figure was eagerly awaited. It fell on Tuesday July 9, the day after the entry deadline set by the IOC regulations. The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) revealed via a press release, midday, the composition of the French delegation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
At home, for the first Summer Games in France in a century, it will have 571 athletes, plus 51 substitutes. The host country will be present in the 32 sports and 45 disciplines of the program. A first. Les Bleus will therefore be everywhere, on all grounds.
Historical fact: their status as host of the event ensured them a presence in all team sports. A privilege which notably allows the French women's volleyball team to compete in its first Olympic tournament, since the entry of the discipline into the Games program, in Tokyo in 1964.
The CNOSF explains it: the selection for the Paris 2024 Games was not made in one day. The delegation has been put together almost piece by piece since last year. It took sixteen advisory commissions to arrive at this number of 571 athletes. David Lappartient, president of the CNOSF, added the final touch by committing the selected athletes to the organizing committee.
One last name was added on Monday July 8, a few hours before registration closed: Améline Douarre, entered in women's wrestling (62 kilos), thanks to obtaining an additional quota. Furthermore, World Athletics opened the door to four French athletes, initially substitutes but who became starters thanks to regulatory changes to the qualification system. Two men and two women, selected for the relays (4×100 m, 4×400 m and 4×400 m mixed).
Almost superfluous clarification: the French delegation almost reached parity. The opposite would have been unwelcome for the host country of the first Games for equality between men and women. Almost, but not quite. The French Olympic team has 282 women (49,4%) for 289 men (50,6%). The perfect balance is not far away. Among the replacements, the 22 women (43,1%) remain one step below the 29 men (56,9%).
Still in the numbers department, the average age of the French delegation turns out to be perfectly average: 26,8 years (25,9 years for men, 27,8 years for women). Not too young, therefore unlikely to break under the pressure of the event. Not too old, either, to fear a generation gap once the curtain falls on the Paris 2024 Games.
Usual in an Olympic delegation: the oldest could easily be the parents of the youngest. The youngest, skater Louise-Aïna Taboulet, admits she is only 14 years old. Nothing very new in the discipline of skateboarding. The oldest, rider Anne-Sophie Serre, has already celebrated her 47th birthday.
Among men, the gap is barely less significant. The oldest, Karim Laghouag, also a rider, is 48 years old. The youngest, the archer Baptiste Addis, is still a minor. He is no more than 17 years old.
With such a number, the French delegation promises to be the largest at the Paris 2024 Games. First place should be played out with the United States. At the end of June, the American Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) estimated the size of Team USA at 569 athletes. Within two units, the same number of athletes as the French team. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, the United States was represented by 615 athletes.
