Near Montpellier, where he spends the summer selling accras (Caribbean fritters), Sullivan Pierre enjoys the sun and the sea, but admits to feeling a touch of nostalgia. Just a year ago, this newly graduated mechanical engineer experienced his “best summer” in Paris. Because of the Olympic Games, most Parisians had left, grumbling, convinced their city would become a security fortress. The 22-year-old from the eastern town of Morteau was among the many members of sports clubs from across France who converged on the capital, determined to “make the most of an unprecedented moment while helping to create a fantastic atmosphere.”
“Having the Olympics at home is a once in a lifetime thing, if you’re lucky,” said Pierre. Along with a few friends his age, he spent months organizing an event for about 40 members, ranging in age from 10 to 70, of the artistic gymnastics section of Saint-Michel Morteau. This is the multisport and cultural association that he has attended since childhood. “We spent more than two years self-funding this project relatively inexpensively by organizing raffles and fondue nights,” the young man said. He also proudly carried the Olympic torch in his native Franche-Comté region.
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