After 14 years at the helm of the World Olympians Association, Joël Bouzou passed the torch to the Swedish Pernilla WibergA few days later, the Frenchman takes stock in a two-part interview.
An important chapter of your life has just closed. Are you leaving WOA with a little pang of sadness?
Yes, it's been quite a journey! When I took over the organization, it had very little activity; it existed almost on paper. We've come a long way; today it's a pillar of the Olympic Movement. The WOA is significant: it represents 100.000 Olympians worldwide and 108 countries, with relationships with International Federations, National Olympic Committees, national federations, and so on. Olympians each excel in a particular field and are generally very intellectually well-structured. They are people who deserve respect. We worked very hard to ensure the organization emerged and gained international recognition.
Why didn't you run for another term?
Because 14 years is enough. If the election had been held a year ago, perhaps I would have run, but today I feel it's better to pass the torch. I've spent a lot of time training people, who are ready to continue. That's great! I also have a family, and I want to dedicate time to Peace & Sport, which is my baby. It's time to hand over the reins; the conditions are right.
What conclusions do you draw from your 14 years as president?
It's been an immense adventure. When I arrived, there was a vision: service to the Olympians and service to society, something that was never discussed. Olympians are role models; they can attract young people to sport. They shouldn't disappear at the end of their sporting careers; we need to use their fame to boost the development of sport. Beyond being champions, they can be pillars of society. That was our initial vision, and we've accomplished a great deal. We created the World Olympians Forum (in 2015), OLY House, the post-nominal OLY… I'm proud of that.
When I arrived, we controlled absolutely nothing, not even a database or our press releases. It took a lot of work to recover all our assets, bring them together, and move this organization forward. We've managed to become a truly significant entity today, especially for the IOC. We've expressed our positions, for example in 2022, on universal participation of athletes in major competitions, stating that merit should prevail, not passports. This caused some friction with the IOC, but things are now well established within the framework of a collaborative protocol.
What do you consider to be the most significant measure of your presidency?
I would say the creation of the three letters OLY. It's like a diploma, something you put on your CV, on your business card. It's recognized worldwide today, everywhere. Initially, it might seem amusing to say that Olympians wear an OLY pin. But today, 24.000 of them wear it, and they're proud of it. They put OLY after their name on their business cards, they're identified as champions of excellence by potential recruiters, and they can apply this ability to focus and deliver results to business projects. Many Olympians are involved in environmental issues and mobilize people to defend causes. They have skills that can be used to address social problems, to talk about diversity, inclusion, fair play, and equity.
Is it an honor to have been at the head of this large family?
Yes, of course. I've always tried to serve to the best of my ability. When you have champions of this caliber who identify with the organization, who proudly wear the OLY pin, you're happy to see the progress made. It's wonderful that so many Olympic champions are interested in becoming president of the Olympians. (Pernilla Wiberg in alpine skiing, James Tomkins in rowing, editor’s note)This shows that the organization has become important. The cause therefore transcends us at some point; we must pass it on. I am a passenger; I carried this flame for a while, but my mission from the beginning has been to pass it on so that it may rise even higher.
