We expected a close match, Brigitte Henriques, favorite in the election for the presidency of the National Olympic and Sports Committee won hands down, with a total of votes (577, or 57.87%) almost similar to his latest estimates.
Thierry Rey, his main rival, collects 19% of the vote, far from his ambitions.
A woman in the presidency is historic
At 50, Brigitte Henriques is the first woman elected to the presidency of the French national Olympic and sports committee.
A real revolution when you look at the photos of families, not so old as that, where men in suits and ties featured prominently.
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I would like to dedicate this victory to all the women, to all those who inspired and supported me," explains the new president.
So that they dare to apply and access positions of responsibility.
And to all the men who have carried me throughout my career, in the first place Noël Le Graët, and Denis Masseglia, who have trusted me all these years.
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Former international footballer, vice-president of the French Football Federation (she has worked a lot for the development of women's football), Brigitte Henriques will now have to win, no doubt by daring more. During the campaign - unlike Emmanuelle Bonnet Oulaldj, also a candidate - she did not particularly play the female card. We have often seen her surrounded by men (the presidents of basketball, baseball and table tennis federations ...), some saw in her the candidate chosen by Denis Masseglia to succeed him. If she has always advanced the argument of a co-constructed program, Brigitte Henriques will now have to take off, because if the exchanges are healthy, the co-presidency does not exist (yet?) At the CNOSF and it is alone that 'she will sit in the president's chair.
Small arrangements between friends continue
Make no mistake about it.
If the election of a woman to the presidency of the CNOSF is historic, French sport emerges damaged from the electoral campaign.
Through the voice of Emmanuelle Bonnet Oulaldj who obtained 16% of the vote, the sports and affinity federations show that they will now have to be reckoned with.
On the other hand, on the Olympic federations side, the war has started.
In recent weeks, two clans have formed with the Henrique pros on one side, and the Rey pros on the other.
Traditionally at the CNOSF, the elections of the members of the board of directors take place after the election of the president (in each case, it is the federations that vote). Result: Brigitte Henriques elected, all the representatives of the Olympic federations who had clearly shown their support for Thierry Rey were ejected. This had been the case with some faithful of Isabelle Lamour, an unsuccessful candidate in 2017, but 3 years before the Games in France, the damage is considerable. Judo, handball and swimming, three disciplines providing medals, no longer sit on the French Olympic Committee!
Just like tennis, which nevertheless featured Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, a rising figure in French sport. The settling of scores prevailed over common sense, the opening was failed at the start of the mandate. “From now on, I am at the service of all sports, all federations, all CNOSF members, with an approach of openness and transparency. This collective approach will be the DNA of my shared governance ”, nevertheless explained Brigitte Henriques.
