The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Claude Atcher: "We could not ask for better than a France-All Blacks to launch the World Cup"

2021-02-26T11:43:23.925Z


The director of France 2023 returns for the Figaro on the development of the calendar, unveiled this Friday, of the World Cup. 


Le Figaro.

The World Cup will last an extra week, eight in all.

For what reasons ?


Claude Atcher:

In the last two World Cups, there have been debates about the number of days off, the lack of equality between small and large teams.

So we looked into the subject.

How to put all the players in the best conditions, to perform and protect their health?

And thus ensure equality between the teams, which will finally all be treated in the same way.

After consultation, it appeared that five days of rest was the minimum.

We then decided to increase the numbers from 31 to 33 players.

But, over four weeks, it was impossible to keep those wishes.

We therefore decided to increase the duration of the competition.

It was not easy since all the contracts were already signed.

But we assumed the fact that it would cost more for the sake of the competition.

As a result, over five weeks, the schedule is much more flexible and balanced.

At the Rugby World Cup board of directors, all nations voted in favor of this change.

Frankly, I think we can be proud of it.

So it will be harder for the big teams…


Yes.

It will give spice to a number of matches.

And ask the teams for a way of preparation and a reflection on the strategy on each game different.

»READ ALSO - 

Can the XV of France be crowned in 2023?


»READ ALSO - 

World Cup 2023: the highlights of the calendar

The Rugby World Cup was already the longest of all major sporting events.

By adding an extra week, aren't you afraid to dilute the interest?


That's a very good question.

We obviously thought about it.

We therefore placed at least one match every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, knowing that there will be none on Monday and Tuesday, to maintain interest.

You can lose interest over such a long period.

But if the matches are of better quality, if there is more suspense, we recover this somewhat negative aspect.

This is also why we have placed about twenty matches of the first round in prime time.

As a reminder, there were only nine in 2015 in England… For the exhibition, it's fabulous.

"

The broadcasters predict 15 to 20 million viewers in France for this France-All Blacks in prime time on a Friday evening

"

Let's come to the calendar unveiled this Friday.

Is it hellish horology?


It took us a few days and nights (

laughs

).

We worked with algorithms to help us.

Knowing that it is also necessary to take into account the hours of broadcasting in New Zealand, Australia, Japan ..., the ticketing potential depending on the match days ... it is a great intellectual exercise to put in place all the parts of the puzzle.

The opening match will therefore be a fabulous France-New Zealand…


I am delighted.

We couldn't dream of a better start than the competition with such a poster.

Of course, we're going to lose some money.

Because the opening match, whatever the opponent, would have been full.

Just like the France-All Blacks whatever its day… But I couldn't play it little arm.

The impact of this match will be enormous, will mobilize all the supporters, all the media.

The broadcasters predict 15 to 20 million viewers in France for this prime time match on a Friday night.

It is a huge chance.

We couldn't miss it.

What do the two teams think?


On the French side, it was mixed at the start.

Then they quickly understood.

The risk is not very great, there is not a lot of risk of losing against Italy afterwards.

New Zealanders do not agree (smile).

They know that the France team hardly succeeds them in the World Cup.

Facing them at home, in the opening match, in a full stadium, it's still tense for them ...

"

The first weekend in Marseille which will be THE weekend of the World Cup with England-Argentina Saturday and Scotland-South Africa Sunday

"

What will be next for the Blues?


France will play its second match in Lille on Thursday September 14 against the American qualifier (

probably the United States

,

Editor's note

), then in Marseille on Thursday September 21 against the African qualifier.

And there, if ever Algeria qualifies ... A France-Algeria in Marseille, I dream of it too.

It would be an incredible symbol!

And the last match against Italy, on Friday October 6 in Lyon.

The Blues will then play their quarter-final at the Stade de France.

Like New Zealand.

The final phase precisely…


Two quarter-finals at the Stade de France, and the other two in Marseille.

Then the semi-finals, the small final and the final again at the Stade de France.

»READ ALSO - 

World Cup 2023: the 9 stadiums in France

All the cities will have a big poster…


We have a first weekend in Marseille which will be THE weekend of the World Cup.

England-Argentina Saturday and Scotland-South Africa Sunday.

We are launching the event on three huge posters.

Then we will have at least one big poster per city: Fidji Galles in Bordeaux, an Argentina-Japan in Nantes, an England-Japan in Nice… And we tried to overtake the big teams per city.

England will play twice in Lille, Africa twice in Marseille, the All Blacks twice in Lyon, Australia twice in Saint-Etienne, Japan twice in Toulouse… Toulouse which will also once host the New -Zeeland.

I promised them, even if it's a financial sacrifice given the capacity of the Stadium.

I think we managed to make the most balanced schedule possible to satisfy all the communities.

Each city will thus receive at least a quarter-finalist of the 2019 World Cup. The feedback is positive.

Everyone is delighted with this calendar.

The base camps will be designated according to?


They are not yet determined, but, automatically, for a matter of ease of transport and rest time for the players, they will be close to the cities where the big teams play twice.

But not only.

There will also be base camps in regions that do not have a match: one in Brittany, one in Center-Val-de-Loire, one in Burgundy.

So that everyone can enjoy the World Cup by attending training sessions.

Read also

  • Five days of rest, larger group, postponed final: the 2023 World Cup wants to be "fairer"

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-02-26

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-27T16:45:54.081Z
News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.