10.9.2024
This summer, France has been abuzz with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For ESSEC Business School, this event had special meaning as nearly 40 alumni took part in organizing the Paris 2024 Games. Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Gameswas one of those alumni. His leadership and commitment have marked every stage of the project.
Tony Estanguet is a three-time Olympic champion in slalom canoeing, and he embodies sporting excellence and leadership. At the Paralympic Games’ closing ceremony, he delivered an inspiring speech which underlined the importance of perseverance and resilience, not only in sport, but in life.
Alongside Tony Estanguet, several other alumni were key figures in the Games: Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (E02), Minister of Sports ; Michel Cadot (E75) President of the French National Sports Agency and Interministerial Delegate for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Michaël Aloïsio (EXEC M06), Deputy Managing Director of the Organizing Committee. All were awarded the Olympic Order, symbolizing their dedication and contribution to the success of the Games.
ESSEC's dedication to sports goes beyond its alumni organizers. We proudly welcome three athletes, who represented France at the Games, to the Bachelor HEPTA class of 2024: Sébastien Patrice, bronze medalist in team fencing; Hélène Karbanov, a rhythmic gymnast; and Clémence Delavoipière, a wheelchair fencer. These athletes exemplify both athletic and academic excellence, embarking on a program that allows them to balance their studies with their athletic careers.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games celebrate values like solidarity, pushing beyond limits, and inclusion — values that align closely with those of ESSEC. Our commitment is reflected in projects such as our partnership with the French Badminton Federation, which aims to assess the social impact of its initiatives.
Through programs like the Bachelor HEPTA, ESSEC demonstrates its dedication to cultivating leaders who can successfully blend their passion for sports with academic achievement. This year’s Games reaffirmed ESSEC's role as a key player in the development of sports both in France and on the global stage.
Crédit photo : ©Paris2024
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will have an enduring legacy, serving as a powerful reminder of sport’s potential to drive inclusion and social change. For ESSEC, this legacy will continue through our educational initiatives and unwavering support for students and alumni engaged in the world of sports. ESSEC remains at the forefront of promoting values such as teamwork, performance, and resilience, be it through our alumni network or our innovative programs. Paris 2024 is not an end, but merely the beginning of a new chapter, as ESSEC reaffirms its place at the heart of major international events. Now, more than ever, we are committed to supporting athletic excellence and training the leaders of tomorrow. Crédit photo : ©Paris2024
