Paris 2024 Olympics: in Seine-Saint-Denis, future volunteers want to “participate” in the Games rather than “watch them on TV”

This time, Thao Vu thinks it’s the right one. After having been a candidate for each edition of the Olympic Games (even the winter ones) since 2004, this 66-year-old retired computer engineer, living in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), believes in his chances of being volunteer and so on “finally getting a foothold in the adventure of the Games” Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP) in 2024, in Paris. The opportunity for him to “restore the image of Seine-Saint-Denis”which he considers chipped, on May 28, 2022, after the incidents near the Stade de France, during the Champions League final.

While the general public will be able to submit their application from Wednesday March 22 until May 3 – 45,000 volunteers are wanted nationally – Thao Vu was able to present it a few days ago thanks to the “All and all volunteers. This initiative proposed by the department of Seine-Saint-Denis was launched in February 2022 to “offer the maximum chance to Séquano-Dionysiens to be selected to be volunteers at these Games and experience this event from the inside by accompanying them, training them and giving them access to the application platform ahead of time. first »specifies Stéphane Troussel (Socialist Party), president of the departmental council.

“We inevitably feel distant from this event as it is so big. But we must ensure that the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis are not excluded from it.recognized Emmanuel Constant, elected in charge of the JOP at the departmental council, during an evening on the subject, in October 2022. The conditions to be part of the program were simple: to live in Seine-Saint-Denis, to be at least 18 years old at the 1^er January 2024, master an official language of the Games (French or English) and be mobilized for at least ten days throughout the duration of the competition.

The vast majority of candidates who have registered for this initiative dream of being selected to be on the pitch and rub shoulders with the athletes, which will only represent approximately 30% of the missions, the rest consisting of hospitality excluding sports. “Whatever position I have, I will be happy! », says Xavier Corot, professor of life and Earth science (SVT), living in Noisy-le-Sec and already a volunteer at several athletics meetings. The 40-year-old has made all his arrangements to be available in the summer of 2024. “Normally I travel, but this is the Games! »he decides.

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