Monday, June 17, 2024 - Eurosatory - As a 3-year partner of the French military cycling team, whose ranks include world, Olympic and Paralympic champions, the Groupement des Industries Françaises de Défense et de Sécurité Terrestres et Aéroterrestres (GICAT), which is also deeply involved in the rebuilding of soldiers injured through sport, was keen to pay tribute to the high-level sportsmen and women involved in the Armed Forces. It asked photographer François Rousseau, winner of the Villa Médicis hors les murs prize and creator of the photographs for the famous "Dieux du Stade" calendar and book, to produce a series of portraits of 7 of the 200 athletes from the famous Bataillon de Joinville. These large-format photos, exhibited in the company's pavilion (Hall 5A), together with the film of their training sessions, shown on the façade throughout the show, both in uniform and in full practice of their discipline, pay tribute to their commitment.
Fully-fledged members of the French armed forces and gendarmerie, these top-level athletes help our country shine in the world's greatest competitions. Assigned to the Joinville Battalion of the National Defense Sports Center (CNSD), since 2014 they have formed a team dubbed the "Army of Champions". Thanks to this unique scheme, the Ministry of the Armed Forces is positioned as the leading incubator of athletes and the main state contributor to the support of high-level sport.
Placed under the responsibility of the military sports commissioner, these high-level defense athletes (SHND) benefit from remuneration, professional training, support in the event of injury, career transition prospects and a framework of values shared with the armed forces. Their supervisory ministry thus provides them with an essential balance, enabling them to pursue their sporting activities full-time and concentrate fully on their medal objectives.
It also provides them with significant support from the Ministry of Sports, the Olympic Games and sports federations. These athletes represent the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Gendarmerie Nationale in national and international competitions, both military and civilian.
They are role models for promoting sport within the armed forces, and their performances contribute to internal cohesion. Finally, they also act as ambassadors for the armed forces to the general public.
Photographer François Rousseau followed seven of them, the majority of whom are qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as they trained at the CNSD (Centre National des Sports de la Défense in Fontainebleau), the EME (École Militaire d'Équitation in Fontainebleau) and the Vaires-sur-Marne nautical base. These privileged moments gave rise to a series of photos and a film capturing each of them practicing their respective disciplines, while proudly wearing their uniforms. Plunging into the intimacy of these athletes, the images reveal the common values between sport and defense: commitment, concentration, precision, surpassing oneself and the will to win.
Many thanks to marshal Marjorie DELASSUS, kayaker, aviatrix Mekdès WOLDU, marathon runner, chief marshal Valentin BELAUD, pentathlete, petty officer Shirine BOUKLI, judoka, petty officer Enzo LEFORT, fencer, marshal Axel REYMOND, swimmer and agent Dorian FOULON, cyclist, for their availability and involvement.
Press contact GICAT :
Delphine SAMPIC : delphine.sampic@gicat.fr
Amélie SESCOUSSE : amelie.sescousse@gicat.fr
Timothée DICKES: timothee.dickes@gicat.fr
Photo credits: GICAT-L'ARMEE DE CHAMPIONS-SPORT-ENZO LEFORT
