Jacky delapierre: "athletissima showcase lausanne": This article explores the topic in depth.
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Jacky delapierre: ". Meanwhile, athletissima showcase lausanne":
Interview De Jacky Delapierre
“Politically, Athletissima has become an easy target” – Jacky delapierre: "athletissima showcase lausanne"
Founder of Athletissima, Jacky Delapierre returns to fifty editions of a meeting that has become essential in the world of athletics.
Wednesday, August 20, the 50th edition of the Athletissima meeting, Diamond League stage. Meanwhile, Jacky Delapierre is the essential character.
KEYSTONE
- The Athletissima athletic event celebrates its 50e Edition in Lausanne on August 20.
- Jacky Delapierre has run the meeting since its creation in 1977. However, Athletissima is a powerful business card for Lausanne jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” around the world.
- The project of the new Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium-12,000 places-has been waiting for its realization since 2007.
It has been almost half a century since Lausanne vibrates each summer to the rhythm of Athletissima. However, Which was originally only a simple inauguration meeting has established itself as one of the most prestigious meetings in. Meanwhile, the Diamond League. Nevertheless, Behind this success, a man: Jacky Delapierre, legendary endurance builder. Similarly, In 1977. Therefore, he responded to a request from the city to mark the opening of the synthetic track of the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium. Therefore, The rest is a story of passion, constancy … Similarly, and political struggles.
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On the occasion of the 50e Edition of Athletissima. Similarly, Jacky Delapierre returns to the great moments of the meeting, but also on the obstacles and political tensions which still slow down the recognition full of what this unique event represents in the Swiss landscape. Therefore, An interview without tongue in wood, like a man who remained faithful to his convictions and his city.
When you launched Athletissima in 1977, did you imagine that the adventure would last fifty years?
No way. Therefore, Originally, it was supposed to be a unique event. Nevertheless, The old ash track dated from the 1964 national exhibition. Therefore, In 1976, it was replaced by a synthetic track. For example, In 1977, the city asked us to organize an athletics event for jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” its inauguration. Nevertheless, This is how it all started. Therefore, We did not think we were creating an international meeting. In addition, And yet, the welcome was incredible, things went on … Consequently, and we have fifty years later.
A project provides for the construction of a new athletics stadium in Coubertin. Moreover, Why has he never saw the light of day?
In Lausanne, everything was built: skating rink, swimming pool, football stadium … Nevertheless, except athletics. Similarly, Since 2007, we have always been waiting. Moreover, It is not for lack of having worked, proposed, readjusted. Therefore, But whenever you think you are moving forward, brakes appear. For example, Some want to reduce the ambition, cut into budgets. Therefore, Result: we repel. For example, Politically, Athletissima has become an easy target …
So you will be ready jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” to leave the Pontaise without even a pinch in the heart?
No. Therefore, because at the beginning, we were at the bottom anyway (Editor’s note: at the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium)where it all started. For example, A new stadium of athletics is not a whim. The infrastructure can be used by schools, clubs, army, citizens. It is not reserved for Athletissima. And above all, we are talking about a regional project. If we do not lead it well, we lose major funding: the 11.3 million voted by the canton will not be paid, and the Confederation will remove its 15 million. Result: the city will have to finance everything alone … for a lightened version, less useful. It is a nonsense.
The Pontaise, impossible to stay there, do you think?
It is no longer possible. We have done beautiful things there, and we will jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” continue to do as long as we are up there. But concrete dates from 1954, the structure is at the end of life. We are getting older, but the walls too! And even if we wanted to stay there, we would have to demolish everything. Politically, it is settled anyway. During the last municipal council, a motion to integrate a renovation of the Pontaise was rejected at 59 votes against 1. The debate is closed. The Pontaise is over.
Precisely, some municipal elected officials are critical of Athletissima. What do you answer them?
This is what annoys me the most. We are talking about an event that makes Lausanne shine around the world. And despite that, some people question his existence, wondering if the game is worth the candle. They speak of “costs”, I’m talking about investments.
We can even go so far as to say that this is the only recognized Lausanne event worldwide …
Absolutely. In 1994. after the world record for Leroy Burrell Out of 100 m, Lausanne made the front page of the “New York Times”: “Lausanne World Record”, he was written. We had world records, dozens of historical performances. I also think of the world record for Chinese Liu Xiang over 110 m hurdles in 2006. Today. the commemorative plates of all the records that took place at La Pontaise are still there, on the wall after the finish line. The tour operators stop at La Pontaise so that tourists can take photos! It is not trivial. It is a powerful business card. In terms of TV audiences, we reach 19 million viewers in China each year. Zurich, for comparison, is 6 million. We are the third most watched event jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” in Diamond League on this market. This means that, every summer, millions of people see images and intend to talk about Lausanne.
Athletissima is also big names in athletics. How are negotiations with stars? Is there a “Jacky Delapierre bonus” to bring the best athletes to Lausanne?
I would not speak of bonuses, but the links woven over time allow you to make things easier. We must of course pay the athletes. But some, today, are asking for completely disconnected from reality. When it is I who tell them no, it goes better. I keep a pragmatic, realistic approach. My role is also to bring things back to earth, to recall the balances. I think that with my experience, I am respected.
Are you sometimes asked by other Meetings organizers to give them an opinion?
Yes, regularly. Organizers come to me to ask me what I think of this or that athlete, or an amount of negotiation. I do not have the truth, but I have a certain perspective. No one is obliged to agree with me, obviously, I just give my opinion.
To bring in a champion like the American Noah Lyles, how much should you pay?
It costs … a lot of money (smile). But for him, it is reasonable. Lyles is an Olympic champion, a multiple world champion. He has a real presence, charisma, impact. He deserves what he asks. And when the public sees him running, he understands why he is there.
Precisely, is the public still sensitive to big names when buying tickets?
Yes, but less and less. We have been sold out for four years. jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” and this year, we were a month and a half in advance, without having announced anyone. That’s the strength of our event. People come because they know it will be good. They trust the set that we will offer them.
Are there moments that you particularly cherish, after all these years?
There are two in particular. The first is the day when Edwin Moses misses the world record of the 400 m hurdles for a hundredth. simply because he released his effort too early: in 1981, we had no light painting to indicate the live chrono. And the second is of course the world record of Leroy Burrell over 100 meters in 1994. It is the Queen discipline, it is the dream of any organizer of the meeting. May this record be done with us … It was simply magical. In addition, it jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” was our first world record.
You also have a special link with the Jamaican Usain Bolt.
Bolt came to us for the first time as a junior. when not many people wanted to give him a chance. He ran six times in Lausanne. And he often says it: Pontaise is the track where he felt best. It was also here that he ran his first Diamond League meeting in career. For this 50e Edition, we had planned his arrival, we agreed to participate in our gala evening. The problem is that his birthday fell on August 21, the day after Athletissima. And on that date, he always has a big party with his friends. He did it even when he was at the top of his form. It doesn’t matter if he had a meeting the next day. he never gave up celebrating jacky delapierre: “athletissima showcase lausanne” his birthday as it should be. His absence this year is not linked to a question of money, but of loyalty to his traditions.
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Fifty editions of Athletissima, and regrets, too?
No. You shouldn’t have regrets in life. There have been more difficult meetings. more complicated moments, less successful editions, like that of 2016 just after the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. But I’m not someone looking in the rear view mirror.
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Jacky delapierre: "athletissima showcase lausanne"
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