Thirty-seventh episode: Frenchwoman Sophie Lorant, director of international relations of the Paris bid committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
FrancsJeux:What was your journey into the sports movement?
Sophie Lorant: He started late, after experience as a journalist and a stint in politics. With my Sciences-Po Paris diploma in hand, I carried out a first mission in Angola for Handicap International. Then I branched off into journalism. For five years, I was a JRI (journalist image reporter), for France 2, France 3 et TF1. I set up my audiovisual production company, where I alternated subjects devoted to human rights and more commercial activities in advertising. This experience brought me to Africa. I visited around twenty countries across the continent. During a feature film, I met Fadela Amara, then Secretary of State for the City. The current has passed. She asked me to work alongside her as a parliamentary advisor. I accepted. For 17 months, I discovered the political world. At the end of this experience, I had the opportunity to join the organizing committee for the London 2009 Games in 2012, where I was in charge of the African national Olympic committees. I had just gotten my foot in the door in the sports movement. I never left him again. After the London Games, I spent a year in France, where I worked for Sportfive Africa and for ANOCA, before joining Baku and the organizing committee of the first European Games. I was responsible for relations with the national Olympic committees.
What is your role today?
I am director of international relations for Paris's bid for the 2024 Games. My role consists of presenting our project and our vision of the Games to the 91 members of the IOC, from 65 different countries. After my experiences in London 2012 then Baku 2015, I now know the Olympic world very well.
What does the sporting Francophonie represent in your eyes?
A wonderful opportunity for discussion and sharing. We have a common language, French. But the Francophonie must live through facts and actions. Sport represents, in my eyes, one of the ways to keep the French-speaking world alive.
What do you expect from the Rio 2016 Games?
I'm looking forward to it a lot. Contrary to what many may predict, I think these Rio Games are going to be a success. The problems will dissipate. The Paris 2024 team will be very widely represented there. For some of us, these Games will be the first experienced from the inside. They will allow these novices to be seduced by the event and its dimension, to catch the virus. On a more personal level, the Rio Games provide an opportunity to discuss with the entire Olympic family. They will also allow us to see, on the ground, what the Brazilians have achieved best in their organization.
In your opinion, can the values and practice of sport promote “living together”?
Sport has incredible power. At all levels. He can succeed in making two nations who no longer speak talk to each other. Thanks to sport, the two Koreas marched together, Azerbaijan and Armenia played against each other. I believe in the Olympic truce. Individually, exchanging a ball with someone is a first step towards a dialogue. In my eyes, nothing is more beautiful than an Olympic village.
