If the style of Patrice and Sébastien is not the same, there is nevertheless continuity in the work of the France Judo organisational team, "It is important that we work on the one hand in perfect harmony with the IJF, but also internally. When you come to compete in Paris, as I did for several years with the French team, or even when you come as a spectator, you do not realise the machine that is behind the fantastic show that takes place on the tatami," explains Sébastien.
"Honestly, when I took over from Patrice, I didn't really know what I was getting into. Obviously the challenge was exciting but until you set foot behind the scenes at the Bercy, you can not understand and grasp the full magnitude of a grand slam. When I was an athlete I went to the hotel, then to the weigh-in and I stepped on the tatami. That's all. Now I can see there are dozens of people to manage, you have to coordinate everyone's work. The grand slam is like an abacus where you hit a marble on one side and it is reflected on the other on the other side."
For Sébastien, the main challenge is therefore to be able to coordinate the work of all sectors. "You have to anticipate everything, plan for everything, but I have to say it, I inherited a well-oiled organisation and everything is running perfectly. Everyone knows what they have to do. We obviously rely on the federal staff, but also on the volunteers. Each year there is a turnover so that we train more people, but there is also a common core which helps us to transmit and train. There is a very good dynamic."
When a new Director takes office, there is necessarily a desire to impress a different mode of operation. Nothing extraordinary, just a completely logical development. "It's a lot of work to keep the machine running, but what I want above all is for everyone in the organisation to have fun. I want serenity, to be rigorous, but in the good mood. We are going to organise several international competitions between now and Paris 2024. We have to do things well, but doing them in a cool way is better."
Even if Sébastien Girardey is new in his position, he is also a child of judo. “I started judo when I was seven years old, in a small Alsatian village 500km from Paris. I also played football but then I focused on judo".
That was a good decision, because one by one, he went through the steps. At the judo training centre in Strasbourg and then during his military service, he performed well at the Military World Championships which opened the doors of the Group France to him. For several years he evolved at the highest level, but when he finally realised that he will not participate in the Olympic Games he changed direction again, still within the sport, to begin a career as a coach and administrator. He returned to his native region and put himself at the service of the regional development of judo. A little more time passed and here he is now working 50% for the Grand Est Region and 50% for the National Technical Department, now in charge of major events. It’s been a beautiful journey in the image of what French Judo can offer.
In all this there is passion and the desire to do well. Finally, when we look at the respective profiles of Patrice and Sébastien, we realise that the main difference is a difference in size, one having competed in heavy weight, when Sébastien was a light weight athlete, because for the rest, there is certainly change, but in continuity, or maybe it is about continuity in change.
In summary, here is undoubtedly the secret of the success of the Paris Grand Slam which is the benchmark for tournaments in the world.
ALSO READ: https://www.ijf.org/news/show/patrice-rognon-creator-of-souvenirs