France’s NOC sacks Secretary General Seminet: ‘Necessary procedure’

Less than two years left before the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

The National Olympic and Sports Committee of France (CNOSF) on September 12 dismissed its general secretary Didier Seminet. The secret ballot of the organization’s board of directors was held at the request of CNOSF president Bridget Henriquez. In favor of the resignation, according to L’Équipe, at a meeting held at the organization’s headquarters, an absolute majority of its 45 members voted, including eight people who joined online.

It is planned that a new general secretary will be appointed at the next meeting of the CNOSF Board.

Despite his dismissal, Semine intends to remain a member of the board of directors.

“This decision is the result of long and difficult deliberation. We will continue active preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, before the opening of which is less than two years away, ”Enriquez L’Équipe quotes the words.

The exact reasons for the general secretary’s dismissal are unclear, but Enriquez has previously said in her interviews that she told the heads of national federations and CNOSF members that “voting was a necessary procedure.”

However, on September 9, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), former French sports minister Guy Drew, condemned the impending resignation of Seminet, since less than two years are left before the Olympics-24 in Paris.

At the end of June 2022, the Minister of the Interior of France, Gerald Darmanin, in an interview with RTL, said that he bears a share of responsibility to all those affected by the poor organization of the final of the tournament at the Stade de France. Earlier, Paris police chief Didier Lallemand pleaded guilty to security problems during the Champions League final match between Liverpool and Real Madrid during a Senate hearing. As MK wrote, the start of the game was delayed due to ticketless fans who had to be dispersed with tear gas.