Gold medal around the neck, tracksuit of the French team on the shoulders and vibrant Marseille in the background. This Tuesday, August 12, it would be like to relive the enchanted fortnight of the 2024 Paris Games. After a tense final, Victor Crouin has just been sacred in … Squash, in Chengdu, in China, during the world games. “It is a real pride for me to win my second title in this competition, after that of 2022”enthuses the 26 -year -old Marseillais, among the crowned of a planetary event which brings together disciplines (still) absent from the Olympic rings this evening.
Cross the march of Olympism
Rollers, rope, apnea, pétanque, billiards, athletic force … In total, 34 sports are represented. “In the vast majority of cases, all the disciplines that enter the Olympic Games have first passed through the world games”explains Stéphane Hatot, vice-president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), citing badminton or karate. Created in 1981 by the International Association of World Games (IWGA), the event follows the Olympic rhythm: it takes place every four years, a year after the summer games. Objective: to offer a showcase to non -Olympic sports and, sometimes, to disciplines awaiting integration. “For federations, this is an opportunity to end up in a multisports competition that they are not used to living”adds the manager.
Among the disciplines ready to cross the march of Olympism, the squash has already validated its presence for Los Angeles 2028. “The experience of global games will bring me a lot. They allow you to live as a delegation. The rest of the time, we make world or Europe championships, alone in our corner … “ Recognizes Victor Crouin, co-door-drop of the French delegation in China. He continues: “This tournament, we lived it mixed, between athletes from different countries, like an Olympic village. It allowed us to share our galleys. »» While most international competitions are controlled by federations, world games have the legitimacy of the CNOSF. “It still gives a completely different dimension in the preparation”assures the southerner.
A great popular success but a low media coverage
Certain disciplines present in the Queen competition also appear at world games, but in a different format. The trampoline, for example, is disputed there in synchronized, while it is individual at the Olympic Games. “It is more difficult because we must take into consideration our partner while thinking of his own figure”explains the trampolinist Léa Labrousse, the other standard bearer of the tricolor delegation. She details: “If my partner makes a fault, I have to lower my height to put myself at his level and find optimal synchronization. »» Present at the Olympic Games in Paris and Tokyo 2020, the 28 -year -old Frenchwoman has already experienced Olympic madness with full stages, intense emotions and a rare adversity. Are these so exciting? “We go with the same motivationshe says. It is an important competition because it brings together more than 4,000 athletes from 100 different countries. »» Crouin adds: “We represent France internationally, the CNOSF and our federations are pushing us to obtain as many medals as possible. »»
The competition has been prepared seriously. The delegation moved to China with a staff of a dozen people, including two physiotherapists and a doctor, to accompany the 129 tricolor athletes. “In order of hierarchy, we have summer games, winter Olympics and World Games”underlines Stéphane Hatot. “We were very followed during the competition. The CNOSF has made a club France available to be found between athletes, to watch the other events, create a link or benefit from care ”rejoices Léa Labrousse. With more than 30 medals on the eve of the closing day, France can claim the top 5, as with the “Great” in Paris last year. “We are in the nails”smiles the vice-basage of the French Olympic Committee.
The talents of tomorrow
As for the atmosphere, the little brother of the Olympics does not have to be ashamed: “Each place is full, whether for the opening ceremony or the tests. The Chinese came in number ”underlines Victor Crouin. Only downside: the low coverage of this 2025 edition. No French media has moved … “This may be explained by a significant jet lag”wants to believe Stéphane Hatot, while Chengdu displays an eight -hour upper time zone in Paris. Less spotlights than at the Olympic Games, but enough light to reveal the talents and the Olympic disciplines of tomorrow.
