Bernard Lapasset: The Driving Force Behind the Return of the Olympics to France

RUGBY – Bernard Lapasset, who passed away on April 2 at the age of 75, left a significant mark on French and international sports over four decades. Under his leadership, rugby became professionalized and was reintegrated into the Olympic program. Following the disappointment of France’s bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, Lapasset, then head of the International Rugby Federation (IRB), was called upon to bring the Olympics back to France.

Thanks to Bernard Lapasset, former president of the French Rugby Federation, France has regained the Olympic Games. This image was generated by an artificial intelligence for illustration purposes. © Dylan2406 / Midjourney

Sport

Published on May 06, 2023 – 11:49 GMT +02:00

A Journey Marked by Success

Lapasset first persuaded political leaders, including Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, to embark on a new Olympic adventure. He also successfully placed athletes at the heart of the project, forming an effective partnership with three-time Olympic gold medalist Tony Estanguet. Behind the scenes, Lapasset used his experience and knowledge of sports organizations to successfully guide the French bid.

A Key Player in the Professionalization of Rugby

As president of the IRB in 1995, Lapasset negotiated the removal of the amateurism clause from rugby’s statutes, paving the way for the professionalization of the sport. In France, a professional league was established in 1998, and the salaries of Top 14 players have quadrupled over the past fifteen years.

A Strategy for the Globalization of Rugby

Lapasset also worked to expand rugby internationally, awarding the 2019 World Cup to Japan and incorporating Argentina into the Tri-Nations, now called the Rugby Championship. After two terms as president of the International Federation, he fully committed himself to the French Olympic bid, achieving another victory and becoming honorary president of the organizing committee.

# Tags: Rugby