2024-01-25 15:00:55
Vincent Léorier, president of the Val-d’Oise departmental judo committee, discusses the dynamics and practice of the discipline within his department.
What is the current dynamic of judo in Val-d’Oise?
In Val-d’Oise, at present, we have 11,250 licensees, 95 clubs, and 396 managers. Thus, among high-level athletes, we have 24 athletes on ministerial lists. The flagship club of Val-d’Oise is Saint-Gratien. It’s a very big senior team, which can compete with the big Parisian clubs. This is possible thanks to the work of Mrs. Bernardin, President, and Mr. Ouassini Bentot (coach) who have built it over several years. They are the ones who dominate Val-d’Oise today. And with the structures they’ve put in place, I think it’s going to last for a while.
What were the levers for relaunching the practice post-Covid?
Concerning the relaunch of post-Covid practice, we can say a big thank you to the clubs. They were the ones who were on the front line. Also thanks to the policy of the French Judo Federation with cheaper licenses for a while. In addition, there were activities outside of judo, that is, training courses and advertising activities. However, in general, the stability of judo in Val-d’Oise, we knew that it would return to normal. Unfortunately, there are a few clubs affected. Indeed, we had around a hundred clubs, but there were five or six which were forced to close because they were unable to resume their activities because of Covid. Which was quite hard.
« Boosting women’s sport is a priority »
What are the activities and projects of the Departmental Committee in 2024?
Already, the federal calendar is already very busy in terms of competition, it has been well structured by the FFJ. There is also the Departmental Council which has always helped the committee with subsidies. Afterwards, regarding the commissions in Val-d’Oise, we have several, for example kata, jujitsu, training, the sports commission, all of this has developed. We have developed activities around that, around the practice of judo in all its forms. We have tried to boost women’s sport, it is a priority. Handisport also under the leadership of Mr. Ruiz has also picked up well. If all this is possible, it is mainly thanks to the volunteers, to these people who invest themselves in the discipline.
How are these new forms of practice, such as health judo or even women’s judo, developing within the department’s clubs?
These practices are developed through training and training courses, always with a high-level athlete in their sights. Next March 8, for example, for International Women’s Rights Day, we will have Lucie Décosse, a former great Olympic champion and world champion. And, with it, we will do a great training from the smallest category, that is to say the four and five years up to the veteran. And then, we are also trying to develop women’s judo. Indeed, women at times may want to know something other than competitive judo. We suggest they try alternatives, such as jujitsu combat and self-defense. For example, at the Persian club, last year, it was exceptional, out of 242 licensees, there were 51% girls. We have always been a female hub. This is why we must continue, since we see it clearly in competition, there are always more boys than girls.
The Paris Games are just around the corner, what impact do you expect from the excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games?
The number of licensees. If Teddy Riner becomes Olympic champion, automatically, we feel the fallout from the start of the school year. Indeed, the same for Clarisse Agbegnenou. It is very well known, especially in the suburbs, if it produces results, as a result, we observe an increase in the number of licensees. Finally, The Olympic effect happens following, it’s at the start of the school year in September.
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