President of the FFBad for three months, Yohan Penel must manage the hot files and in particular the sling of part of the licensees asking for the reimbursement of the license. The young leader (36) wishes to make his mandate a success in terms of societal issues.
What conclusions do you draw from your first months at the head of the French badminton federation?
We can say that we are not unemployed. Since taking office, we have accumulated obstacles. First, the current situation is financially difficult. With a 30% drop in the number of licensees and therefore a corresponding drop in our resources, it will be difficult to balance our budget for 2021. The outlook is darkening without our having any visibility. In addition, we are subject to a major rebellion on the part of our licensees on the issue of reimbursement of the license since they consider that they have not had any consideration for membership in the federation.
How do you deal with this situation?
Today, we have an abysmal deficit over 2021. We lack the money to operate. It should be understood that if we compensate our licensees, there is a risk of dissolution of the federation. It’s hard to hear from some of the licensees. I sent a letter to explain the situation which was intended to be educational but which was taken for total contempt. For a month, there has been an exponential rise in the slingshot. We campaigned for a rapprochement between the licensees and the federation, to form a community, but this situation is a threat for the federation. We are seen as insensitive and disconnected from the field, yet we are a list of personalities who come directly from the clubs. We understand how people feel, but we cannot invent money. There are also licensees who do not ask for refunds because they are proud to support their sport and their federation.
What are the other issues encountered?
If we come from the field, we lack experience at the level of federal authorities. There is a job of getting to grips with functions and areas of activity. We are in the process of breaking in. We are progressing little by little, without skipping the steps. We are looking to recruit a National Technical Director and a General Manager. We were elected on a promise of change. For that, we need the licensees to agree and in times of crisis, it takes time. We are obliged to go through a phase of making contacts, of construction to establish a bond of trust.
What are the positive points of your first months of presidency?
The raw material that is badminton is a hope for the future. We are able to adapt to many audiences and different types of practices. We respond to societal issues and we wonder how to work on the practice and its benefits. We have two legs: the first concerns the high level and the other the democratization of our sport which goes with social performance. We are ambitious on both subjects. We want to show that we are pioneers on social issues. I am 36 years old and all my life in the associative world has allowed me to build myself. The federation for the years 2020-2030 will have a hold on its territory and society. We are ready to take the risk of being a pioneer. Many opportunities are available to us in a rebuilding world even if sport is not considered essential in our society. This societal role of sport must be proven and assumed. The sports movement must make itself indispensable.
Do you regret getting involved in this fight?
We are elected and we have to take responsibility. There is concern but we want to succeed in federating. I see that the spirit of belonging to the badminton family is in bad shape, but it is exciting to think that the challenge is immense. We want the gymnasiums to reopen with adapted protocols. We have the opportunity to change the world through sport, that doesn’t happen every day. If we put sport back at the center of the game, we can change things.
For the first time in Tokyo, badminton will be on the program of the Paralympic Games. It’s a great way to popularize the discipline for people with disabilities …
The benefit is the visibility that the Paralympic Games will give to para-badminton and the spotlight on admirable and inspiring athletes. The Games must play this role in order to thrill with the performances. The para-badminton shines since 2013 and the world title of David Toupé until the two world gold medals of Lucas Mazur in 2017 and 2019. The para-badminton collective is scattered all over France because we have no Dedicated France pole. We want to gradually structure ourselves by trying to expand the frameworks. We want to carry out actions with ambassadors to remove barriers. How do you welcome a person with a disability? How do we promote its integration and development? If this public represents very few licensees, the number is likely to increase and in any case, there is room for everyone in French badminton.
Interview by Loïc Feltrin
.
