Emmanuel Macron at the Tokyo medalists: “Do a lot more” at the Paris 2024 Olympics – Franceinfo

The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron received on Monday, September 13 the Olympic and Paralympic medalists from Tokyo for the “celebrate” and “to prepare“the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Games”at home“where it takes”do a lot more“in terms of medals.

In front of more than a hundred medalists, some not being able to be there like the French volleyball players, currently playing a round of 16 of the Euro, the President of the Republic reviewed the best moments of the Tokyo Games in front of the presidential candidate and PS mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and another candidate, the president of the region Valérie Pécresse.

But, he admitted, “the results are not quite what we expected“, he said, less than three years before the Paris Games. The France team has indeed remained in Tokyo below its objectives and standards with 33 medals after 42 in Rio.

“The success of the Games will be the success of our athletes because it works like that“, he insisted Monday evening in front of the sportsmen and the leaders of the French sport, before decorating the sportsmen of the Legion of honor or of the national order of the merit.

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– Nicolas Batum (@ nicolas88batum) September 13, 2021

“We have to do a lot more, because these are our Games, at home, we are expected“, placing the objective of integrating”the top 5“but without giving any other figure. He promised that the State would not fail to support French athletes, recalling the current philosophy of”focus our efforts on high potential disciplines“.

A regular here brings up the rear: @NKARABATIC pic.twitter.com/NpZ5FnDIH9

– Adrien Hémard (@AdrienHemard) September 13, 2021

Asked about this objective, in particular being part of the top five in the world, Claude Onesta, manager of high performance, explained to a few journalists that he “used to live with pressure“. Achievable the Top 5?”It’s a challenge, it’s the thing you want to go get“, launched this former architect of the success of French handball with two titles at the Olympics. Describing the results of the Tokyo Olympics as”disappointing“, he has just given the government a precise report and recommendations for the Paris Olympics.

Triple Olympic champion, judoka Teddy Riner, regular here – he comes for the “fourth time“- explained when arriving at the ceremony that it was always a”great honor” and “great pride“.

Asked about Emmanuel Macron’s promise to make France a “sport nation“for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the judoka replied:”France is a great sporting nation, but to think that we are going to win 90 medals in Paris 2024, no. You have to do a lot more things to qualify for 90 medalists in 3 years“.