Participate in the Olympics “it’s a dream”, “it is really the DNA of sport “, Paris Saint-Germain star striker Kylian Mbappé said this Thursday during the “Sports en Seine” evening, organized by Radio France, France Télévisions and L’Equipe.
As usual, Kylian Mbappé chose the right words to declare his love for Paris 2024. Despite the hellish schedules, matches every three days and multiple requests, the Frenchman spoke in the auditorium of Radio France. With a strong commitment: to participate in the Paris Summer Games in 2024, whatever the cost. He is even ready to put a clause in his future contract, at PSG or elsewhere, to ensure his presence.
I want to experience the Paris Games. It’s a childhood dream – Kylian Mbappé
“I want to experience the Paris Games. They will be in France, they are those of the centenary in Paris. It is not the greatest football competition, but you have to play the Games in your career. It is the thing. that I really want to achieve. It’s the very DNA of sport, something unheard of when you are in love with sports. It is a childhood dream that emerges. An event that brings together the whole world, that brings together passions, all people, large and small. This is the opportunity to discover other sports. It is also the best opportunity for an athlete to live his dream. “
As a reminder, the Olympic tournament is not in the calendar of competitions of Fifa. Also, the clubs are not obliged to leave their players to the Olympic selections. France was also illustrated last summer in Tokyo, with many refusals from clubs like Nice or Lyon. A position hailed by the Minister for Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, at the microphone of France Bleu Paris.
“I am delighted with this position, because Kylian Mbappé is a symbol – Roxana Maracineanu, Minister for Sports
“I am extremely delighted with this position taken by Kylian Mbappé because he is a symbol. This position also illustrates that he understood what the Olympics are for an athlete. And I hope that it does. will talk to other athletes. Even for an athlete like Kylian, who makes a lot of money every day, being part of the sports family is something even bigger and Kylian says it very well. “
The Minister of Sports also hopes that other footballers will engage in this way. “I hope it will make other football players want too. We are world football champions in France, so it is inconceivable that in Paris there is not the best French football team participating in these Games. The main thing is that the athletes express it, go and negotiate it in their contract and say loud and clear that football is sport, and that it is sport that will be honored in France. in 2024. “
Surf the craze for other team sports
Football, the “poor relation” of the Olympic disciplines, could change dimension with the presence of Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman, certainly motivated because he saw in Tokyo with other team sports. “I think that’s also what gave the envy“, believes Roxana Maracineanu.”When we see the enthusiasm that there has been in the population around basketball (silver medalist for boys, bronze for girls, editor’s note), volleyball (gold among men, editor’s note), handball (gold for women and men), I believe that this enthusiasm is at the height of what we have felt when we watch football matches, or even bigger.”
Roxana Maracineanu finally wants to see a call for air to help to motivate young people who are gradually abandoning the practice of sport. “His statement is priceless; I would really like to say thank you because a symbol like him, of a youth today, it is also to speak to a youth who, perhaps only watches football in front of the TV, who stays playing on his console football. It is also telling them, come on the field with us, come and play sports“, insists the minister.”It’s true that there is this sporting spectacle on TV that thrills the crowds, but in France, there will be people in the stadiums, in the streets, and there will be people who will be able to practice the same sport as whoever is on TV. We want to confuse the two, that’s the concept of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to talk about sport in people’s daily lives, to show the benefits of sport, on education, on health, on cohesion between people. “