After the resignation of the president, the National Olympic Committee will have to get rid of internal conflicts

Symbols are sometimes in the corner. On Thursday, May 25, around 12:30 p.m., in front of the Maison du sport français, at 13.^e In the Paris arrondissement, the parking lot reserved for the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) was empty. On the other hand, he was appointed as the Secretary General. A few hours before, CNOSF President Brigitte Henriquez announced her resignation. It is now the duty of former fencer Astrid Gearty, as secretary general of the committee, to step up.

Refusal m.^I Henrique signs the end of one of the poor series that has shaken the reign of French sport for almost a year. After Bernard Laporte, who left the French Rugby Federation on January 27, and Noel Le Graet, who returned to the French Football Federation (FFF) mandate on February 28, Ms Henrique is the third leading representative of the tricolor instance. Heading for the exit in 2023, in a noxious atmosphere.

Again on Wednesday evening, the former vice-president of the FFF, the first woman elected president of the CNOSF on June 29, 2021, seemed to have decided to continue her action at the helm of the committee, despite fierce opposition led by her predecessor, Denis Masseglia, 75.

The latter publicly requested his resignation and announced a week ago that he intends to file a complaint against X for “abuse of social welfare” at the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) and pointed to several expenses (expense accounts, consulting services. According to him, Ms. Henriquez was appointed irregularly.

“Tough times, very tough”

To members of the CNOSF Executive Office, the latter announced on Wednesday evening that it intends to organize a vote of confidence at the General Assembly (GA) on Thursday. Such consultation was not provided for in the committee’s charter, but was seen as a way to democratically exit the governance crisis. But at 10 a.m. Thursday morning at the opening of the GA, the 52-year-old leader announced his resignation without notifying the executive office.

What happened between late Wednesday night and Thursday morning to make Ms. Henriquez quit? Did he, heartbroken, give up on his own? Has he been told in high places that the French Olympic Committee’s deteriorating image was such that, just 400 days before the Paris Games, his departure was no longer an option? These two versions are plausible and may be mixed.