Our Athletes

CHLOÉ: My role during the preparation of the JOP is to implement the hospitality operations at the Bercy site. This includes organizing catering and beverage services for VIP clients, managing hostesses, distributing gifts, and setting up lounges. During the JOP, I will be the hospitality conductor at Bercy, supervising each VIP area with a dedicated manager to ensure smooth operations and resolve real-time operational issues. My role also includes coordinating public reception, from their arrival to their seating in the arena, to their exit, ensuring that each person is placed according to the package they paid for, with a constant focus on customer service.

CHARLES-ÉRIC: As Assistant Venue Manager Hospitality, my role is to ensure a smooth transition between our regular activities and the preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP). It includes a significant logistical dimension, an element of interior design, and coordination with service providers. In collaboration with security, we develop reception arrangements tailored to different audiences and ticket packages, always ensuring guest satisfaction. This requires close relations with the cleaning teams, adhering to quality standards, and involves the management of furniture, decoration of suites, and the 'clean venue' for hospitality areas (suites and lounges). Guest reception also includes managing souvenirs: how many gifts to provide, how to distribute them...
In short, my goal is to ensure that the guest experience remains memorable, embodying the spirit of French hospitality.

CHLOÉ: Hosting the JOP at our venue is an honour! It is a global event, followed by millions of people, and as a sports enthusiast and event professional, I feel immense pride to participate in this adventure and its organization in our country. It is an unprecedented chapter in my career. Even more so as it takes place in Bercy, in our iconic arena, recognized as the second-best arena in the world. It's quite incredible to think that we will host gymnastics, basketball, and trampoline competitions here.

CHARLES-ÉRIC: For me, the Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP) should be a grand celebration, not only for the host country but also for visitors from around the world. It is our duty to ensure an exceptional experience, worthy of what they have invested to attend the sessions.

When I was offered to work on these JOP, I immediately accepted, seeing it as a personal and professional imperative. I am delighted to participate in their organization, which has been (and remains) highly instructive! The rapid ramp-up of preparations has been a stimulating challenge, allowing me to juggle my current responsibilities at the Accor Arena and the preparation of the future Bercy Arena. It wasn't that easy, but I find it very rewarding. I have been able to contribute to a large-scale project while fully living my passion for event management.

CHLOÉ: Probably having been able to adapt to a whole new organisation. We work in collaboration with Paris 2024, which is something that has never been seen before within our walls. I arrived less than a year before the Games, so I am happy to have been able to integrate into this process. There was everything to build, and I put my stone in the building.

CHARLES-ÉRIC: Precisely, it is having been able to link this true passion of managing the hospitality of the second-largest arena in the world (it must be said!) to the JOP. The fact of preparing, imagining this arena transforming and finally seeing it metamorphose to host such an incredible event. And of course, the managerial part. It's a mission where I manage people above all else.

Apoline: About the preparation for the Games, I was assigned the role of ticketing supervisor and advisor for each of the arenas, BCY and CPL. Consequently, I advised and supported the ticketing teams of the JOP. During the Games, I will continue supervising the ticketing at the Bercy site only. This task includes addressing access control disputes, ticket office issues, and even internal venue problems.
To put things in context, the commercialisation was conducted by the JOP. On our part, we will manage the operations and reception. For example, we will need to intervene when there is an issue with a spectator's ticket not scanning properly. There is also the aspect of relocating people within the venue if there are technical issues that necessitate the movement of spectators. This is a particularly significant challenge: the JOP is broadcast worldwide, and the appearance of the venue on television is important. If certain areas are not filled, we will need to ensure overall harmony and a uniform distribution. But generally, we have few issues. In all our venues, we are almost fully booked for all sessions.

Benjamin: I am a ticketing supervisor. This means that I oversee the installation of our ticketing spaces at the CPL site, ensuring that the venue's configurations comply with what the JOP has commercialised, and that the flow of different populations is smooth. This role requires close collaboration with the spectator reception and security services.
At the CPL site, our boxes will be sold to the general public. The general public, of course, must stay within public areas and not enter the VIP hall. This requires careful planning of pathways, ensuring coherence, and having the proper signage.
Additionally, I need to ensure that the technical aspects (camera placements, commentator positions, etc.) are in line with what we have commercialised to prevent disputes and take into account installations that may impact our ticketing capacity. We will also have a manager in the venue to handle disputes, such as the need to change seats for reasons like illness, newly acquired disabilities, or broken seats. In short, we will apply the procedures of Paris 2024. It’s their event, and they will install their processes and equipment. We must meet their specifications as best as possible. During the Games, we will be there to supervise and manage any issues that arise.

Apoline: Working at Bercy was a professional dream of mine since the beginning of my career. However, I primarily envisioned working on concerts and shows, which I was familiar with. For the past few years, I have been discovering the organisation of federated sports events. This summer, we are hosting the biggest global event in our venues. It has sparked a dream I never had before. I have always watched sports on TV, so being able to experience it from the inside is exhilarating. I am very eager to be a part of this.

Benjamin: When I was offered to join PEC, I knew there was a chance to participate in the JOP. With over 10 years in ticketing and as a huge sports fan, I specialised in this sector. The JOP is the largest event to deliver globally. Being part of it and actively involved in its organisation is a unique opportunity. I have been lucky to work on other major events in the past, such as the Women's World Cup in 2019 and the Rugby World Cup in Nice recently. But this event is phenomenal. It’s like the pinnacle of a career — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It also allows us to learn new things about our job and grow both professionally and personally. We make great connections, are enriched by the experience, and live emotions we wouldn’t experience anywhere else.

Apoline: Without a doubt, what makes me the proudest is holding a managerial position for the past year when I took over the supervision of the ticketing department. It's this additional commitment of supervision and support, and accompanying the team that motivates me daily. And even more so for the Games, as I will be the first point of contact in case of need.

Benjamin: The thing I'm most proud of: contributing with the sports ticketing team and the management of the adidas arena to the delivery of the venue. It’s not every day that you open an arena. It's a significant event to have played a part in its implementation and to have been there for its inauguration. For the past six months, we've seen our tools being applied, we've adjusted them… and I think we're ready now!

Melissandre: My role, during the preparation for the Games, was to take care of FA SEC (security), which oversees safety, fire safety, medical, transport, accreditations, and EVS (event services) which manages the volunteers. My mission was to prepare all the arrangements, such as setting up barriers, ordering surveillance cameras, managing fire safety and the pre-emptive security plan, among other things.
During the OPG, I will be the Venue Security Manager. I will have to ensure dialogue with external stakeholders (City of Paris, police prefecture, SNCF…). Together, we will have to coordinate the entire system, from the arrival of the public at the station, to their entry into the site, to their evacuation from the site after the competition.

Julian: During the OPG, I will be in charge of EVS (Event Venue Services) at the La Chapelle site. My role will be to welcome spectators as soon as they arrive at the site, guide them inside, and provide information throughout their stay with us, ensuring that the services offered are accessible and available: from toilets to food concessions, and of course their seats in the stands. For this, I have a team of two people (Alix and Aurore), and no less than 160 volunteers on average per day, especially on the OLY (Olympic) part.

Before the OPG, my role is to prepare the training of volunteers, identify the different tasks they have to perform on the site. I try to give them the best possible experience to keep them motivated. Volunteers are like spectators who lend us a hand, they must have a great experience, not just come to help us!

Melissandre: Being the host city of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and more than that, taking full part in their organization, is something that you experience only once. A year ago, my mother said to me "it would be great if you worked on the security of the Games," and I did. It's an invaluable opportunity.
And it has to be said, the Accor Arena is a mythical venue. As a big basketball fan - who closely follows NBA games - working here, for the Games and especially the basketball finals... It's a dream come true. We all want to see a France-USA final here... right?
Beyond all that, I am extremely happy to be surrounded by such a cool team!

Julian: It does me a lot of good to discover another site - La Chapelle - after 13 years at the Accor Arena, and to take on new missions. It allows me to express more of my potential, to make use of the knowledge I have acquired such as during the hosting of the French Ice Hockey Cups or the World Championships in 2017, and to develop new ones, given the scale of the Olympic and Paralympic Games!

Melissandre: What I am most proud of is clearly being able to answer inquiries about the plans on the spot, to provide advice on the plans, on what can be done legally or not... And this mission of securing the venue, of course. I arrived a year ago and they already show great trust in me with such responsibilities for an event of this magnitude.

Julian: It is having managed to create a good team spirit with Alix and Aurore, with whom I work on the Olympics. I am particularly happy that I was offered this mission, that my abilities to manage were recognized. I will be able to discover a new venue, in a new, larger environment.

Melissandre: The first week when I arrived, I had 4 deliverables to submit for Paris 2024. One on the security master plan for BCY and CPL, and one on private security resources for the 2 sites as well. I took a big dive into the world of deliverables and they were approved. A hectic start, which directly allowed me to get to the heart of the matter and to gain skills!

Julian: I am pleased to be on the organizer's side: I was part of the Olympic selection for the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, for ice hockey. I was very young at the time, it allows me to reminisce about wonderful memories. Some people here don't know it, but I have 13 years of ice hockey with the Gothiques d'Amiens behind me!

Nathalie: My mission: to ensure that the environmental and social commitments made as part of our contractual commitments are respected at the two competition sites. This is a transversal mission, interacting with all FAs, covering issues as diverse as the circular economy, carbon neutrality, social innovation, the inclusion of people with disabilities, and the creation of value in the territories. This involves working on responsible procurement that we deploy, briefing strategic service providers on these subjects, identifying environmental and social issues for each business area, and carrying out reporting (monitoring the environmental and social plan, carbon tool).

Yvan: Before the Games, my role is to bring my expertise in planning, to anticipate blocking elements on the subjects that concern us, and to prepare my team to manage an event of this magnitude.

Nathalie: Obviously, I am very proud to host the Games at our venues and to be part of their smooth running. It is a dizzying, extraordinary event whose massive media exposure requires us to excel! We could even call it an 'augmented' event. 'Augmented' in the sense of 'disproportionate.' It requires us to step out of our comfort zone and constantly take on challenges. Moreover, it is primarily a collective challenge. Our group is not the only one involved; we are bringing in the Paris 2024 teams, volunteers, service providers, partners... This event involves stakeholders with whom we are not necessarily used to collaborating. It is extremely stimulating!

Yvan: I am proud to participate in organising this event. I approach it as a challenge and see it somewhat as a competition too. It generates excitement and impatience; we are curious to see what it will actually consist of as we are mostly dealing with theory for now. It is sometimes difficult to project and quantify needs, but I have a calm approach as I have faced high levels of demand in the past. I am used to managing high-tension events with long hours!

Nathalie: It is certainly being able to make concrete and translate into operational actions the major issues of sustainable development within an event. For example, concerning social issues, I am part of the 'Paris 2024 facilitator' programme aimed at improving the integration of people who are distant from employment. Regarding environmental issues, we are obviously sensitive to the preservation of fauna and flora and the control of our carbon footprint... For example, we ensure the choice of equipment and materials and their reuse in a second life; we offer less meat-based food options with the F&B teams, and we source locally for supplies.

Ultimately, what I find wonderful is the material and immaterial legacy that the Games will leave us: new agility and expertise, and ideas to explore in a logic of continuous improvement.

Yvan: The mission I am most proud of is that I have provided a framework and field knowledge. I have shared the vision of my participative management and created a real team dynamic. I know that today, my team feels ready and equipped to participate in this competition!

Nathalie: Sometimes I have to move from cross-cutting issues (such as responsible purchasing) to very operational subjects, which are important for the spectator experience. A very recent example: Paris 2024 must guarantee access to water for different uses and different populations on each site (public, media, workforce, athletes, etc.). To do this, we need to estimate the volume of water consumed. This requires listing the equipment at our facilities. We had to count the number of... toilets. And I can already tell you that we have 252 toilets on the Bercy site!

Yvan: It's important to break away from clichés. My team and I learned to handle the single-disc machine, which cleaning agents use quite frequently. And I can assure you that they are not easy machines to use! You need to learn to master them. If not effective... we gained muscle and a greater appreciation for their work!

MM: We need to provide solutions and find compromises. There is also a management aspect, for which we need to know how to boost team morale during slightly complicated moments. We see it particularly as the setups approach!

SC: Our role is to ensure the coordination of operations that take place upstream. We must ensure that all stakeholders cooperate on the ground regarding organisation, schedules, etc. See if everything fits the timeline. During the Games, if the job is done well, I hardly manage anything.

SC: I am quite proud to work on this project, to represent the Games in Paris. Bercy has been my neighbourhood since I was a kid, so it touches me even more to organise it here.

MM: I feel proud, of course, because it is a majestic project. Also excitement: I can't wait to be there and experience the event. And it's a first to be co-organisers in this way, with Paris 2024! Usually, the host city provides facilities, and the organiser takes over, overseeing everything. This year, Paris 2024 delegates certain activities to the direct operator of the facility. That's huge!

SC: It's surely the redesign! The facelift of the Parc de Bercy, which has been transformed into a "broadcast compound" (international television video/audio control room) for the occasion, we installed almost 100 bungalows. This work started at the beginning of May and requires a great deal of flexibility since we work alongside regular events that take place in the venue, we have to adapt.

MM: The task I'm most proud of is the layout of the arena and its spaces. An architect is with me, of course, but it feels like I’m orchestrating the production of the layout plans. One must realize that, unlike productions that have access to part of the arena, Paris 2024 has access to almost the entire venue! It's colossal.

MM: Each arena hosted a test event. For us, at the Arena La Chapelle, it was the para powerlifting competition. The stage, hexagonal in shape, is assembled like lego. Except… the lego pieces wouldn't fit together. We had to stop everything and think of a last-minute plan B because the event had to go ahead regardless. We made cuts on-site to facilitate the assembly, but it was quite stressful. In the end, it was more of a scare than harm, we managed!

SC: When I first arrived, people were talking to me about "containment". For a week, I was lost, I thought they were talking about containers... Then I eventually learned that it refers to all the cable passages, the cable paths made available to everyone! Everything seemed more logical.
Similarly, no one wants to talk to us at the end of the day anymore because we use too much technical jargon (laughs)