2023-05-03 12:03:58
Closed Wednesday evening, May 3, applications to volunteer at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games attracted more than 200,000 applicants, of whom only 45,000 will remain. Hoping to obtain the precious sesame, Erwan explains his approach by a desire “to be at the heart of a global event”. This 30-year-old salesperson applied as soon as the platform was put online: “Games in Paris only happen every 100 years, you have to be proud of it, I want to be part of it!” »
After participating in the International Library Congress as a volunteer, Servane also took a liking to this type of action. “I really enjoyed meeting so many people. I wanted to apply for the Olympics to reiterate that. “Being closer to the athletes, seeing behind the scenes, all that attracted me”, says this media library manager.
Volunteering, a hidden job?
When Tokyo (2021) had mobilized 60,000 volunteers, Paris is only asking for 45,000. Sufficient to revive the eternal question of the lack of remuneration for volunteers, while the budget surrounding the Paris 2024 Games should be around 8 .3 billion euros. “The commitment of the Olympic and Paralympic volunteer (T&C) being by nature voluntary, he carries out his mission outside of any permanent legal subordination link, and he accomplishes the tasks entrusted to him without financial consideration or compensation of any other nature.described Tony Estanguet, president of the Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Games, when registration was launched.
“For me the Olympics is a feeling of surpassing oneself, and volunteering is part of this wholebelieves Servane. It’s true that there’s a lot of money at stake. We know the CIO and the stories of corruption that tend to spoil the party. But volunteering is a special state of mind. »
“We do it because we have the time, because there is a social interest in it, adds Erwan. If we always had to look for the little beast, no initiative of common interest would see the light of day. » A sign that it is indeed voluntary work, the applicant will be able to “withdraw its commitment, at any time, for any reason whatsoever, including during the performance of the mission”, indicates the Organizing Committee.
The only downside for these applicants is the lack of accommodation solutions during the minimum 10 days of presence requested by the Organizing Committee. “Having to pay to be a volunteer is necessarily a bit embarrassing. Maybe they should have provided housing for volunteers, like they do for athletes”, admits Servane. Even if beyond Paris, several cities like Lille or Châteauroux will also need volunteers, the impossibility of housing them “created a divide between people, very far away, who want to take part in the party but have to give it up for lack of means and those who can afford itregrets Erwan. I am thinking in particular of people from overseas. »
The shadow of the boycott
Some activists hostile to the holding of the Games have also volunteered for the sole purpose of obstructing the event. Lucas, a resident of Seine-Saint-Denis who is strongly opposed to the Games, took this step and is convinced of the correctness of his action: “The idea is to infiltrate to oppose”, explains the one who, anonymously, relayed a call on social networks to follow his action. “I find it silly, responds Servane. The Games can be an opportunity to denounce situations of human rights violations, but here we are mixing everything up. »“There are surely other actions to be taken than boycotting an event that puts our country in the spotlight”also protests Erwan.
This wind of revolt, difficult to quantify at present, does not worry the Organizing Committee, which has given itself until September 2023 to announce the verdict to the 45,000 lucky winners. “Our mobilization processes must make it possible to ensure the sincerity of the candidate’s commitment to volunteering and their adherence to the Paris 2024 project and values”, indicates the direction. As is already done in voluntary programs for major international competitions, the Committee plans to set up a team of volunteers who can be mobilized in the event of withdrawal. “All volunteers who will be given accreditation will be subject to a prior administrative investigation by the authorized State services.also indicates the instance. The same goes for anyone in the organization who will benefit from privileged access to the sites. »
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