This will probably only happen once in their lifetime. A dozen teenagers from the specialized hospital center of Yonne had the privilege this Monday, September 12, to see the Ballon d’Or trophy. This prestigious award created in 1956 by the magazine France Football, will be awarded on October 17 to the best player of the year. “I felt my heart beating very hard. It’s not every day that you get to see the Ballon d’Or”emphasizes Cyril. “I asked if it was the real one, I was told yes”adds the 14-year-old teenager.
We want this reward to be accessible to as many people as possible.
Pascal Ferré, the editor-in-chief of France Football, hides a big smile under his mask. “They are overwhelmed by this sparkling trophy.” He chose to go to the Henri Vincenot adolescent day hospital in Auxerre, “to put a bit of glitter in their eyes and a smile in their life which may not have to be rosy every day and that alone is worth the trip”. For two years, the magazine has been organizing this type of event across France.. “Only one footballer and one footballer are chosen each year. This makes it a fairly inaccessible trophy, but we want this award to be accessible to as many people as possible”.
Voting for the Ballon d’Or is closed
Pascal Ferré answers questions from adolescents and caregivers. “It’s simple, they want to know who will be the Ballon d’Or this year. This is the first question and it is normal, they are thousands or even millions to ask themselves it too. The votes have been closed for a week, the editor knows the names of the winners but – unsurprisingly – he won’t reveal anything. “We will have to wait until October 17 but I can tell you one thing: the winners have not yet been notified”. But it’s only a matter of days. Pascal Ferré explains that footballers are notified before the official award ceremony. “Players like Kylian Mbappé, for example, agreed to come to the ceremony knowing that they would not be rewarded”he says in front of an attentive audience.
– Sonia Ghobri
Then, Gaëtan Charpentier makes his appearance in the refectory. Leo’s eyes light up. A big fan, the 17-year-old asks the AJ Auxerre striker for an autograph. “I told him thank you, that I was proud of the AJA players. It’s thanks to them that we are in Ligue 1. These words touch the player a lot. “It makes me happy. We are here to give a little joy and in addition, they had the presentation of the Ballon d’Or. It does not happen every day. Besides, I too see the trophy for the first time. Very few players in the world can have such a prestigious award. It’s a childhood dream to see it up close.”says Gaëtan Charpentier.
It is rare to have the opportunity to see this prestigious trophy. I have worked in football for 20 years and I had only seen it on television or in photos.
Baptism Malherbe, the executive president of the AJA, agrees: “It’s rare to have the opportunity to see this prestigious trophy. I have worked in football for 20 years and I have only seen it on television or in photos. Football is a team sport but the Ballon d “Or crowns the best player in the most popular sport in the world. It’s magic”. A magical moment that he is happy to share with these young people. “They are happy to see Gaëtan and the Ballon d’Or. It is our vocation to bring these moments of conviviality through sport, especially in Auxerre where we have a special history with football”.
Franck Vromant, a nurse in this day hospital, remembers another visit from AJA players. “It’s always a very special moment for our teenagers who often see them on TV and who dream of seeing them in person. In addition, this time there is the Ballon d’Or”.
He welcomes these initiatives. “We are in a psychiatric unit, it arouses a lot of fantasies. We organize outings but it is always interesting when the outside comes to the hospital. These are moments of rich exchanges for the teenagers”. Angélique Bougis, the health manager of this unit is also “delighted“. She had “some fears at the start because there are a lot of people, it changes the habits of the service somewhat. We have teenagers who sometimes have trouble socializing. Moreover, some did not wish to attend this event “. The caregiver has “the impression that it is a great success”.