On July 26, 2024, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, the third edition of the Summer Olympics in France, after 1900 and 1924. One hundred years later, the biggest sporting event in the world will therefore make its back to France. This deadline, the French athletes are waiting for it impatiently.
The Crédit Agricole Charente-Périgord regional bank has been very active in supporting five athletes from its territory in their preparation for this competition, through the “Golden Dreams” project since 2021. This action reflects the economic and social role of the bank in the dynamics of its territory.
Mutual exchanges
“We are used to intervening in sport, through the support of sports associations. Individual support is innovative, we want to show that we can be a partner, that we can support athletes on a daily basis (equipment, care, courses, etc.)”explains Iza Artimon, communications officer for the regional fund.
Both parties are winners. The athlete is supported financially and gains visibility through the communication tools of Crédit Agricole Charente-Périgord (videos, field operations), the regional bank highlights its territory and sees its colors carried high during an event major.
Five different profiles
The youngest athlete in the “Golden Dreams” project is Sokhna Lacoste. The 23-year-old athlete, a member of Grand Angoulême Athlétisme, specializes in the 400 meters. She has already experienced the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo, in the 4*400 meter relay. But the supported profiles are very different from each other.
Sokhna Lacoste, 23, athletics, 400m, Grand Angoulême Athletics
Sports with little media coverage (sports shooting), representative of the territories (canoeing), emblematic of the Olympic Games (athletics), there is something for everyone. But all athletes have things in common: their medal potential, and their attachment to the territory. In their speeches, the values of solidarity, fidelity and mutual aid are very present.
Yoann Kowal, 36 years old, athletics, marathon, Périgueux Athlé
This is the case for marathon runner Yoann Kowal, 36, licensed from Périgueux Athlé, who is embarking on a new challenge after the London Olympics in the 1500 meters and the Rio Olympics in the 3000 meters steeplechase. The Dordogne also has Manon Hostens, 29, licensed from Périgueux canoe-kayak, K1 specialist with 11 world championship titles.
Manon Hostens, 29, canoe-kayak, K1, Périgueux canoe kayak
Martin Thomas is a C1 slalom specialist. Licensed to Jarnac, he is participating at the age of 33 in his second Games after Tokyo in 2021. Finally, the fifth headliner is Carole Cormenier. At 33, the graduate of the Confolens Ball-Trap Center (16) is a sports shooting specialist in the Olympic pit discipline.
Carole Cormenier, 33 years old, sports shooting, Olympic pit, Center Ball Trap Confolens
These athletes take part in regional fund events. Manon Hostens went to a school that shot a film financed by the local fund of Trélissac (24) on her. Martin Thomas inaugurated a sports course in Champagne-Mouton (16) during the five years of the local council office. Examples among others of these rich exchanges.
Martin Thomas, 33, canoe-kayak, C1 slalom, Jarnac
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