the French Olympic Committee in turmoil

Brigitte Henriques, the president since June 29, 2021 of the French National Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF) resigned, Thursday, May 25, during the general assembly of the body.

“A few weeks ago, I spoke out to say that it was time to say stop. Stop the slander, stop the denigration of the CNOSF and my person. I want this general meeting to be the time to close this too long sequence, she announced. In order to bring serenity to the athletes who are preparing with their entourage, to the volunteers of the clubs who are committed to the development of sport on a daily basis, I am making my mandate as president available and I am tendering my resignation, which will be effective from June 29 next. »

Multiple cases

This resounding decision punctuates a crisis which began in September 2022. Brigitte Henriques then dismissed her secretary general, Didier Séminet, and took legal action, a month later, against this former president of the Baseball Federation, for harassment and psychological abuse. In response, the latter lodged a complaint against his former president for slanderous denunciation and breach of trust.

A few weeks later, the former footballer was accused of having – as part of her former duties at the French Football Federation – given her explicit support to Jacky Fortepaule, the former president of the Centre-Val football league. de Loire, sentenced on February 14, 2023 for moral and sexual harassment. She then temporarily and voluntarily withdraws.

It was then the turn of his predecessor Denis Masseglia to raise the temperature. Claiming the head of Brigitte Henriques, he expressed his “anger” at financial anomalies. The return of the latter to the head of the committee, at the beginning of the year, was accompanied by a complaint lodged with the national financial prosecutor’s office for “abuse of social good”. Denis Masseglia accuses him of personal expenses appearing in the accounts of the authority, evaluated at more than 4,000 €. A sum which has since been reimbursed.

What are the consequences for the organization of the Olympic Games?

Ankylosed by business, the CNOSF aspires to regain calm and serenity, one year before the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. The former fencer Astrid Guyart, until then secretary general, will have the difficult task of assuming the interim until the end of September.

Despite the strong divisions that opposed the “pro” and the “anti” Brigitte Henriques, most members of the CNOSF consider that this resignation is likely to calm the situation. “Things are clear. Everyone is on their job. The organization of the Games, well distributed between the various actors, is not slowed down. The CNOSF remains the leader in the management and monitoring of athletes, ”says a source within the body.

At the end of the general meeting, which endorsed the moral and financial report, workshops and debates were held around “two major themes”, underlines the body: the organization of Club France, which will welcome 700,000 people at La Villette to follow the events on a giant screen, learn about many sports and meet the athletes; and the anticipation of the expected influx of licensees in the federations at the start of the 2024 school year… At the CNOSF, life must follow its course. Despite the turmoil.

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