On a shared Chef de Mission at Paris 2024
They’re the best of friends. They’re Olympic and Paralympic medallists. And now as Chefs de Mission, Michaël Jérémiasz and Jackson Richardson are preparing Team France for a home Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Originally, being a Chef de Mission was an extremely technical mission,” explained Michaël Jérémiasz, Chef de Mission of the French National Paralympic Committee. “You had an administrative, legal and somewhat technical role. For the first time, the function of Chef de Mission has been revisited.”
A global role
Chefs de Mission prepare and represent their national teams at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. At Paris 2024, around 400 Chefs de Mission will look after 10,500 Olympic athletes across 32 sports and 4,400 Paralympic athletes across 22 sports.
“I’ve started to make more contact, going to the training courses of each sport and talking a little more about what my role will be,” said Chef de Mission of the French National Olympic Committee, Jackson Richardson. “I’ll be their big brother, their first fan.”
Uniting Team France
Even though Jackson and Michaël are close friends, neither knew the other had been nominated as Chef de Mission. But it’s a dynamic that is serving them – and the French team – well.
“A few years ago, we created a united French team for the first time,” continued Michaël.
“We thought it might be a good time to talk just about champions. About athletes. In other words, there is no distinction. It’s about having Chefs de Mission who work together, accompanying and sharing their experiences with both Olympic and Paralympic athletes.”
Creating an equal footing
Michaël and Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Insurance Partner, Allianz, have worked together since 2019 and continue to advocate for people with disabilities.
As part of its MoveNow program, the insurer developed a training series to encourage young people with disabilities into sports. Allianz also supports a team of around 160 athletes and Para athletes from more than 30 countries as part of Team Allianz, with more than 100 likely to compete at Paris 2024.
“It’s really about the values of sport in reducing inequalities and sharing essential human values,” concluded Michaël. “And that’s the commitment we’re making to Paris 2024.”
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