Elisa Chanteur is one of the thousands of people who are working in the shadow of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The head of Paralympic performance at the French Badminton Federation is taking on the role of Team Manager during the world’s most beautiful sporting competition. A multi-tasking mission.
The Sportswomen: What is the role of a team leader at the Paralympic Games?
Elisa Singer: I make sure that everything goes well, logistically and in terms of extra-sporting organization. I make sure that the configuration is ideal for the staff and for the players. I absorb the problems so that they have as few as possible. They laugh about it, but every day because I prepare memos for them where I remind them of everything: schedules, things to do, etc. Some call me auntie [rire]. I also make the link with the CPSF, the FederationParis 2024, etc. And then, on the sporting level, I am involved in all the meetings for everything concerning the setting up of the competition.
What are the particular points of the organization that require special attention?
If we take the case of Milena Surreau for example, it’s special. In para badminton, it’s the athletes who have motor or neurological disabilities. But Milena has the particularity of being affected on the motor level but also of having an autism spectrum disorder. Which adds constraints to the implementation of her project. So that she could be accompanied by her assistance dog, different meetings were held so that we could have a specific room to bring her Eugène, her dog. So that he could wait while she plays. Except that, in a competition hall, this is not necessarily planned. So we had to study the plans of the room to make this possible. More generally, we have to be adaptable at all times. For example, we have to make sure that everyone can live together in the same room, depending on the disabilities. We have to take everything into account. It’s an individual sport but they need the group to get the best out of themselves. So living together is important. That was really the common thread.
Does your mission end at the competition hall doors?
No, I’m also on the field. I help my colleagues. At the Games, we don’t have enough accreditations for all the French staff. So I also play as a smating partner. I also manage all the shuttles, recovery times, physiotherapy. In short, everything that allows them to focus on themselves. I can also coach. For example, Milena Surreau and Faustine Noël have the same coach. If matches fall at the same time, I go to the chair to assist. And finally, there is management. I make sure that the staff feels good, that everything is well oiled. Sometimes there are small hitches and we have to discuss, redirect. Sometimes I play the role of a policeman. I take on different roles depending on the needs to make sure that everyone lives well together.
How can you summarize this role in a few words?
It’s human management combined with sporting expertise.
