— Published June 19, 2025

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra elected and ready to “anchor the CNOSF in the sport of tomorrow”

FOCUSInstitutions Focus

After two years of David Lappartient's presidency, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee is opening a new chapter in its history. The body's General Assembly officially elected Amélie Oudéa-Castéra as its new president on Thursday at the Maison du Sport français. There was no suspense. The former tennis player is the third woman to sit at the head of the table after Brigitte Henriques (2021-2023) and Astrid Guyart, who served as interim president for a few months (2023). At a crucial moment, at the crossroads of the Paris 2024 Games and the 2030 Alps Games, she assures that " This mandate will be one of unity, action and boldness. ».

"Let the future no longer be a source of worry"

Despite the stakes and expectations after the Olympic Games, the French Olympic Movement did not have the luxury of choosing, as there was no rush of candidates. David Lappartient declined to run again, preferring to focus on his re-election as head of the UCI. "I could have held this position for a short time, but in the long run it would not have been healthy.", he justified to Ouest-France. It was clearly becoming too much. I couldn't go back to four years fully committed. From the beginning, I said I was taking over the presidency of the CNOSF in a crisis situation, and I committed to serving two years. I respect that. Leaving the presidency of the CNOSF will give me back time. I need it. Tony Estanguet, once mentioned, did not run either, despite his popularity and legitimacy after Paris 2024. The members of the General Assembly thought they would at least have the choice between two candidates, but that was without anticipating the announcement of Didier Séminet's withdrawal on June 7.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra therefore appeared before the AGM with a single goal: to ensure the election turned into a plebiscite to strengthen her legitimacy. Mission accomplished, as she obtained 100% of the votes cast (918, with two abstentions). "In four years, when we meet here to take stock of this mandate, we will be able to measure our collective success.she promises. We will have succeeded if three essential markers are met: the CNOSF will have established itself as a central player, capable not only of bringing ideas and dialogue to life at the heart of French sport, but also of strongly and unitedly putting forward respected positions in the public debate; our federations, particularly the smallest ones, will feel better supported, better considered; finally, we will have succeeded if we have anchored the CNOSF in the sport of tomorrow, by preparing the future so that it is no longer a source of worry, but on the contrary, of confidence, optimism - and even audacity.

White Paper, French Youth Games and support for amateur clubs

A number of her supporters, led by Philippe Bana and Cédric Gosse, were also elected to the board of directors. She also announced her intention to appoint Gosse, president of the French Triathlon Federation, who had withdrawn his candidacy to join her, as secretary general. The former Minister of Sports finds herself in the position she desired, with a free hand. It is now up to her to rise to the challenge and live up to the three priorities she presented: Defend sport, help to place its benefits more at the heart of society and prevent the legacy of the Paris 2024 Games from fading. »

Among its flagship measures, the management of cases of sexual violence in an ad hoc disciplinary committee for federations that request it; a renovated French House of Sport, " much more attractive for the entire sports movement community, athletes and partners "; as well as the launch in the fall of " a major territorial consultation on the future of sport and the club of tomorrow » to develop a white paper on French sport – a tool which "will allow us to have a united voice ahead of the municipal elections and in anticipation of the presidential election", so that the interests of sport are taken into account. She also mentioned the establishment of an emergency fund to support amateur clubs in exceptional circumstances, a possible bonus in the calculation of retirement « for some categories of volunteers with a very long-term commitment”, or even the organization of “French Youth Games for middle and high school students” in order to “bringing the culture of Olympism to life”.