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The great solitude of the announcer at the Stade de France

2020-10-29T17:47:59.838Z


This Saturday evening, Eric Dagrant will face empty stands during France-Ireland. But this master of ceremonies, like his football counterpart, retains an essential role. Confidences.


At the end of the line, the voice is a little hoarse.

In an affable tone, Eric Dagrant apologizes, with his Southwestern accent.

“I'm a little sick but it's getting better.

We will have to be ready for the match this weekend, ”reassures the speaker of the XV of France.

On Saturday, this fiftieth anniversary will once again host the Blues' match against Ireland.

Health crisis obliges, the shock will still be held behind closed doors at the Stade de France even if a few hundred people (players, selection staff, staff of the federation and stadium, journalists) will be present.

Last weekend already, the “master of ceremonies” - a name he prefers to that of announcer - gave voice in the Dionysian enclosure plunged into icy silence.

A real balancing act for someone who, out of the context of Covid-19, usually leads the public during the meetings of the Girondins de Bordeaux (Ligue 1), Racing 92 (Top 14) or even on the Tour de France.

In the field, Eric Dagrant has a solid reputation for shouting without calculating to raise the temperature.

A little too much, some will say.

" 

I am not blind, I can clearly see the empty seats which reflect my echo

"

Eric Dagrant

Last Saturday, while the purring of traffic on the A1 motorway bordering the stadium descended to the lawn, the Bordelais did not stop wanting to take in its wake the very meager assistance, including the few handfuls of journalists.

“I assume.

Sometimes I speak to the press gallery.

They are also match spectators and that does not prevent them from being part of the show despite their exemplary integrity.

I read that I had asked them to wave flags when none had been distributed… This is not true ”, he corrects, before addressing, teasingly, to his detractors:“ I can hear it's annoying that a guy bawling down in the field when you're working.

"

"READ ALSO: The reconfinement gives an" additional mission "to the XV of France

Eric Dagrant did not just "bawl" while exhilarating on the tests scored by the Blues that night.

The tone was even serious when it was necessary to announce the minute of silence in memory of Samuel Paty, the professor of history and geography victim of an Islamist terrorist attack on October 16.

But, apart from this parenthesis of meditation and the solemn announcement of the hymns, his enthusiasm has never weakened.

“I am not blind, I can clearly see the empty seats which reflect my echo.

But there are so few joys at the moment that we are not going to deprive ourselves of celebrating the trials.

I often talk about it with the Racing 92 players and the staff: they ask that we chant the names loudly.

It brings a little humanity and it is also a sound benchmark for them ”, relativizes this fervent defender of his corporation through the Association of speakers and masters of ceremonies (ASMC).

A profession directly impacted by the end of competitions in the spring.

“In the eyes of some, we pass for funfair nags or entertainers who win Ricard swimsuits in a nightclub.

The image of our profession is overused, ”he regrets.

Both the French Rugby Federation and the French Football Federation have been keen to maintain the presence of these stadium drivers in Saint-Denis since the start of the school year for international matches.

Whether there is an audience or not.

And although it may seem incongruous in some aspects in an empty enclosure, their work remains essential for the holding of the event.

“If only to announce partnerships, team compositions, launch the anthem protocol, validate the names of scorers and replacements, we always have our place”, explains Franck Bargine, alias “Max”, official speaker des Bleus by Didier Deschamps.

“We may also be required to make announcements on safety,” insists the host.

As during the disastrous France-Germany of November 13, 2015, marked by terrorist attacks, including one near the Stade de France.

“You also have to be prepared for this kind of event,” he emphasizes.

"

We cannot be totally neutral and sad

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Franck Bargine

Passed by TV and radio, "Max" has already covered three matches of the world champions, behind closed doors, against Croatia, then at a reduced level (1000 spectators) against Ukraine or Portugal.

“The first time, it made me really weird.

It's terribly frustrating to be in this huge empty stadium.

But I'm starting to get used to it, ”he told Le Figaro.

He misses the noise of the crowd which he manages to heat up to white.

“When you announce the compositions while playing with the public or when you launch La Marseillaise, which is covered by 80,000 people, there is a real rush of adrenaline.

I can see the glass half full.

The matches take place, that's already it, ”describes the host who knew how to adapt his tone to the heavy silences while waiting for the return, one day, of the public.

“We launch the protocol with more restraint.

Instead of announcing the goalscorer three times with a jingle, we do it just once, but the dynamics remain the same.

You cannot be totally neutral and sad.

Our voice is a bit like the little background music you hear at the stadium or in front of your TV.

"

Read also

  • XV of France: the comeback of French Flair

Source: lefigaro

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