There was an explosion of joy in the Capitol this Wednesday evening for the return of the Toulouse athletes from the Olympics. 10,000 people came to celebrate their heroism.
Thousands of blue, white and red flags are flying in the square. 26 athletes from Toulouse and mainland France are participating in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. All dressed in white, they greet the crowd en masse from the balconies of the town hall. 10,000 people have gathered to give them a standing ovation and to return the emotions conveyed during the competition. The sun is there as if to make them shine a little brighter. Léon Marchand even started the “Olympic applause”, drawing a wild crowd with applause, songs and shouts of joy.
Each one in turn introduces himself as close to the public as possible on a stage prepared for the event. Even the lesser-known and those who do not like notoriety play this game and do not hesitate to bathe the crowd a little to immortalize the moment in photographs. “It warms my heart to see you all here, long live Toulouse,” says Guillaume Restes. A sentiment shared by all and translated by a few tears from Sofiane Oumiha. The ceremony ends with a moment of suspense: a Marseillaise sung by baritone Omar Hassan and followed heartily by all the people of Toulouse.
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19 Toulouse medals
The athletes were greeted with praise by Jean-Luc Moudenc in the Salle des Illustres du Capitole before presenting themselves to the public. “11 of the 64 French medals won at the Olympics are from Toulouse. 8 of the 75 medals at the Paralympics. A great first that contributes to the impact of our city. A huge congratulation, a huge thank you and a big pride to all our staff”, says the mayor.
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Other Toulouse figures, such as Fabian Ordonez or Michel Sarran, also made the trip to celebrate their athletes. “I followed the Games a lot,” says the star chef. “The ability to bring these people together that sport promotes is extraordinary. I wanted to thank them for the happiness and joy they give us.”
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The evening was capped off by the presence of host Reyda Messaoudi, who kept the crowd waiting with a giant blind eye. “I didn’t really know what to expect,” she admits. “I’m more used to the celebrations in stadiums. But the crowd was incredible, a great welcome in a family atmosphere. Everyone is happy to be here. Toulouse is a real sporting city, it filled my heart.”
An organization success
Bringing 26 athletes to the same place on the same evening is a feat. But Toulouse City Hall has risen to the challenge. “We all got involved,” says Johnny Dunal, who was elected to be in charge of the events: “Everyone used their connections and made phone calls. Some knew more about rugby, others about swimming…” It’s a long-term commitment that began at the beginning of 2010. August, even before the end of the Olympic Games. The elected official explained that the athletes were offered various dates depending on the availability of the Place du Capitole, “a symbolic place that belongs to all Toulouse residents”. “Toulouse shone undeniably during the Paris Olympics, thanks to the achievements of our athletes who brought us into the spotlight. It’s normal to commemorate them here.” The square is used to host sports celebrations. The Top 14 final was broadcast live on a giant screen in the Capitol last June, and the Stade players celebrated their victory there a few days later. In the end, the date that stood out for the Toulouse athletes’ return from the Olympics was 18 September. “We were lucky to be able to reach consensus to align their agendas,” admits Johnny Dunal.
