Jean Gracia (Ensemble l’Athlé), Bertrand Hozé (Clubs are the future of Athlé) and Philippe Lamblin (Avenir Athlé 28) are the three candidates for the post of president of the French Athletics Federation whose elections will have takes place from December 9 to 14. We went to question them on what they would like to implement for the trail during their mandate, if they were elected.
After eight years of presidency of André Giraud, who is not running for re-election, a page of the French Athletics Federation will be turned (FFA). And in the new chapter, which stretches for the 2024-2028 Olympiad, trail running could have a more important role within the FFA. ” He there is a desire to develop the practice and the federation participates in it, believes Bertrand Hozé, head of the list of “Clubs are the future of Athletics”. But I fear that we are embarking on the same path as in the 70s when the federation missed jogging and which resumed road running in the 90s. In our opinion, what is currently being done “is not enough and if we continue in the current direction, we risk missing out on trail running.” This vision is shared by the three candidates for the leadership of the eleventh largest Olympic federation with more than 300,000 members.
Taking French teams into account
Philippe Lamblin (Avenir Athlé 28), even sees an even more important reason to take trail running more into consideration: “It’s the IOC (International Olympic Committee) who decides, but when we are almost certain to have the trail at the Brisbane Olympic Games (2032)it seems important to me to develop the French team.” Some members of the French team, for example, would have told him that “the French trail team was not considered like the others” and others that “the equipment was not great and they could have had more”. He would therefore like the federation “meets the needs of the French team” by helping him, for example, to “find other places where they can go to train”while it is usually gathered in Cantal. Furthermore, everyone underlines the excellent results of the French team. It is therefore not surprising to see growing federal interest in it, as competition from runners from the African highlands makes it difficult for track and road runners to seek a medal.
Philippe Lamblin, also wishes “refine things at the level of supervision regulations” with the Ministry of Sports due to “legal gaps which can be worrying”but also “improve the existing circuit (the National Trail Challenge) and make it attractive. »
“Putting trail clubs back at the center of the development of the practice”
Because the ambitions and projects for trail running of all the candidates are not limited to elite athletes. “Our desire is to put trail clubs back at the center of the development of the practice”, advances Emmanuelle Jaeger (Ensemble l’Athlé). The latter, accustomed to long-distance races (trail and 100 kilometers), presents herself alongside Jean Gracia, former sprinter specializing in 50 meters (“60 meters was already too long”). Both are currently vice-presidents of the FFA, and if elected, Jean Gracia would be at the head with the “complementarity of outlook” of Emmanuelle Jaeger, co-presidency not being possible in the statutes.
To put the clubs back at the center, she wants the Federation to take better account of the training of clubs and coaches in order to “to ensure a safer practice for physical development and respect for nature, whereas currently this is done in a much more disorderly manner. » Together Athlé also wants to encourage trail running schools that the list considers “êbe an important axis of development for clubs ».
The training of coaches and the development of trail running schools are also one of Bertrand Hozé’s ambitions in order to better supervise the practice. “There are more and more races for children and these trail schools would be a bit like the anteroom for all the practices, which they then continue towards trail running, middle distance or another discipline. This would allow clubs to be associated with a practice which is currently carried out mainly outside clubs. » The former deputy DTN of the federation (2005 and 2009) would also like to bring together all the players in the sector in order to “build something together and partner locally. »
Financial aid locally
During our discussion, he gave the example of trail organizers – “We know that for most races, timing is a real concern. The services can be relatively expensive, so we could try to pool this aspect at the level of a department or a certain number of races. » – but also race participants – “In certain departments, race registrations are reimbursed to licensees. A runner who joins a small club to do trail running and who does the three or four local races would be reimbursed. This would take care of more than just his license! » Today, many races are not affiliated with the French Athletics Federation, whether those organized by private companies or those offered by associations in a small village.
The three candidates seem quite close in terms of ideas, with a real desire to further integrate trail running into the federation, but only one will end up at its head. Which of the three lists will have most convinced the FFA clubs, who will have the opportunity to elect their steering committee for the first time? Answer on December 14.
