Less than a month before the Olympic flame passes through Corsica, “there is real enthusiasm”, estimates the executive advisor in charge of sports

Less than 100 days before the launch of the Olympic Games and less than a month before the torch passes through Corsica, Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia, executive advisor in charge of youth, sports, gender equality and disability gave an interview to France 3 Corse ViaStella.

We are one month away from the passage of the Olympic flame in Corsica. Do you think there is anticipation around this event on the island?

Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia: I honestly think this passage sparks excitement. We announced the route of the flame almost a year ago, and the day after this announcement, the municipalities immediately put themselves in working order to be able to offer activities for all audiences, and to make this passage of the Olympic flame a real popular celebration.

The flame will arrive on May 14 in Corsica. It will follow three differentiated routes, from Ajaccio to Bastia via Alta Rocca, Central Corsica, Porto-Vecchio, Balagne… You wanted to involve everyone, the rural, the urban , working-class neighborhoods like city centers?

Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia: The idea was to be able to represent Corsica as it is: sea, mountains, urban centers, countryside. In this route, there are eleven symbolic places which will be highlighted and which represent our Corsica, its culture, its heritage. I think it’s really a magnificent course.

It was a question of the departments having to pay 180,000 euros to ensure the passage of the flame. You indicated that the island would not be subject to this sum. Do you confirm it today?

Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia: I confirm it to you. Paris 2024 wanted to come to Corsica, and we also made sure to give the Corsicans this opportunity to see the passing of the flame, without this impacting the budget of the public policies that we carry out in the Community.

This will still have a cost in terms of security, security, traffic, etc.

Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia: We will have to put things in place and there will obviously be necessary residual costs, as with any event. There will also be a very significant human cost: today, elected officials, agents, associative actors are not counting their hours to propose a real celebration on May 14.

There will be 99 porters for Corsica. How were the choices made? Is it Paris that validates, or is it the Community that decides?

Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia: There is obviously a filter which is put in place for applications by Paris 2024. For our part, Collectivity of Corsica, we have chosen six flame bearers, for whom we have adhered to criteria: parity, territorial coverage, and above all social and societal commitment.

It is often said that the Olympic Games can be a territorial planning tool. In this case, in terms of infrastructure, there are only two beach volleyball courts in Porticcio. Is Corsica a little forgotten in this context?

Lauda Guidicelli-Sbraggia: Yes and no. We work within the framework of sports policy to develop the territory according to needs. We work with those in the field who report them to us. It is not, I think, the Olympics which will ensure that we will develop our policy, but rather it is the sporting actor and the territory concerned.