This year's electoral campaign within the French sports federations promises to be particularly tense. Between invalidation of lists, personal attacks and administrative complexities, this election took an unexpected turn, exacerbating the fractures within the French sports movement. In the background, the 2022 Sports law, supposed to clarify governance, is considered responsible for the numerous difficulties encountered by federations in compiling their lists.
One of the notable incidents was the withdrawal of ex-boxing champion Sarah Ourahmoune, a victim of racism and sexism after announcing her candidacy to co-president of the French Boxing Federation (FFB). Another sports figure, Estelle Mossely, former Olympic champion and also candidate for president of the FFB, saw her list invalidated by the electoral surveillance commission for an administrative error concerning the eligibility of one of her running mates. Mossely immediately announced his intention to challenge this decision in court, specifying: “You will not stop me. »
Increase in appeals
This invalidation of the lists is not an isolated case. Many applications were rejected, particularly in canoeing, horse riding and weightlifting, pushing some candidates to seek help from the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). However, these remedies are not sufficient to resolve the complex administrative problems created by the Sports law. “ Never has conciliation at the CNOSF been so requested,” confides a source close to the sports movement, although the sports body could not confirm the exact number of pending files.
The Sports law, passed in March 2022, imposes strict requirements in terms of governance, in particular parity in governing bodies and the integration of new representatives such as high-level athletes or referees. “ The specifications for compiling lists are too heavy, and people make mistakes,” says an executive from the sports movement. According to him, “ the elections have fallen into common law, and this leads to a climate of distrust and contestation. »
Administrative complexity
This administrative complexity causes frustration, particularly when lists are rejected for technical reasons. “ Some struggle to fill all the requested categories,” explains a source close to the CNOSF. In some federations such as volleyball or golf, only one list is in the running, which suggests that it is becoming difficult to create real opposition.
-The tensions are palpable. “ It's very rough sometimes,” confides a sports executive. This atmosphere led the Minister of Sports, Gil Avérous, to ask the federations to “stay up to speed” and preserve the integrity of the electoral process. He deplores that “certain episodes tarnish this essential moment in the life of the sports movement”, stressing that personal attacks have taken place. A ministerial source nevertheless tempers things by specifying that “this is not going badly everywhere”.
Very recently, the president of the CNOSF, David Lappartient, candidate for president of the International Olympic Committee, condemned “unacceptable” comments exchanged during this campaign, calling for respect and dignity in exchanges. According to him, “sport is seriously ill, and these elections prove it”. Three months after the Games in Paris, this electoral campaign highlights deep divisions in French sport, aggravated by the implementation of a complex law. Supposed to strengthen governance, it could plunge the sports movement into a crisis of legitimacy. (With AFP)
© SportBusiness.Club November 2024
