The Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee of the Alpes-Maritimes, in collaboration with the Regional Olympic and Sports Committee of the Côte d’Azur, organized the 18th National Congress of CROS-CDOS and CTOS, which took place on October 8, 9, and 10, 2010, in Nice. More than 250 delegates attended over the three days, bringing together all the Presidents of the French Olympic Committees.
Key moments of the Congress:
They occurred on Friday evening with a welcome cocktail at the Prefectural Palace in the presence of Jean-Paul SERRA, President of CDOS 06, Alain KOUBI, President of CROS CA, Jean-Michel BRUN, Vice President of CNOSF, Francis LAMY, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Eric CIOTTI, President of the General Council 06, and Christian ESTROSI, Minister and Mayor of Nice.
Then, on Saturday at 9:00 AM, the proceedings of the 18th Congress started at the Westminster Hotel in the presence of Denis MASSEGLIA, President of CNOSF.
Words from Jean-Paul Serra, President of CDOS06 and host of the event:
“We are proud and honored to have welcomed the leaders of French sports in our city and our department. The team in charge of the organization has worked hard to ensure that the reception and logistical quality are up to the importance of the debates.
French sports, as we know, are on the brink of significant changes: The reform of local authorities will alter the relationships with public authorities.
The choice of the President of the Republic and the Government to consider sports practice as part of health and social cohesion policies further modifies the framework of our traditional functioning. We are moving towards a more professional organization for elite sports and a more community-oriented approach for basic activities (youth and citizens of all ages).
The direction of the supervisory Ministry is to replace, at least partially, public subsidies with sponsorship and patronage (editor’s note: with some of the most advantageous tax measures in Europe). Here too, we will be called to make many modifications to our management system.
All this questions the sports organization as we know it, the role of territorial institutions like CDOS, CROS, and CTOS, and the profile and training of leaders.
We will have to analyze and think about all this to support these changes in the best possible way and ensure athletes and clubs receive the best possible support and do so effectively and with great attention to the profitability of our actions (cost-benefit ratio).
For these reasons, I believe this congress of French Olympism has been a milestone on the path to renewal. We hope to have lived up to expectations and the task.”
Alain Koubi’s comment, President of the Regional Olympic Committee of the Côte d’Azur:
“With its 4,600 clubs and 468,000 members plus 11 Pôle France and 17 Pôles Espoir, the sport of the Côte d’Azur is far from ‘relaxation,’ but rather a school of rigor, work, and innovation with unquestionable success. The CROS Côte d’Azur is committed daily to granting access to sports for people facing social and professional integration difficulties, women’s sports, sports for the disabled, and to promoting the heritage of the Côte d’Azur.”
Words from Anne-Julie Clary, regional councilor delegate for sports and community life:
“The PACA Region recognizes the social and societal role of sports. Nearly 10 million euros were allocated to associations, clubs, and sports events in the Alpes-Maritimes department in 2010.
The territorial reform of the State and the competencies of local authorities may change this essential support in the future, matching the very concept of public service inherent to sports activities.”
The conclusion is from CNOSF President Denis Masseglia:
“I want to claim the public role of sports and hence the involvement of local authorities in its financing.
We must not confuse the legislative framework with the financial situation and create an impediment to intervention through the law.
Sports contribute to the balance of sports society, and public authorities owe us this recognition.
National Olympic Committee, sports federations, territorial Olympic bodies, the economic world, all together we represent the sports movement. This wealth must not be damaged by unjustified reforms.
We will ensure it.”
