On May 13, these Montpellier residents will have the honor of carrying the Olympic flame on the course

Montpellier, Sète et Millau seront traversés le même jour, le 13 mai prochain. PARIS 2024

La Banque Populaire du Sud, l'un des parrains officiels de la flamme olympique et paralympique révèle quelques noms des 52 porteurs qui auront l'honneur de s'illustrer sur le parcours, qui traversera Montpellier le 13 mai prochain.

On May 13, they will be part of the hundred torch bearers who will travel through Montpellier. There will be 11,000 in total in France. Banque Populaire du Sud, one of the three official sponsors of the Olympic and Paralympic flame, reveals some of the names of the 52 bearers who will have the honor of shining on the route.

Douglas Foulquier: former rugby player and business manager

Douglas Foulquier, former French champion, impatient to carry the Olympic flame!

This ex-rugby player within the Montpellier club in the youth teams then in federal 1 at the Bobigny club, Douglas Foulquier, 32 years old, co-founded the company GreenNest in Vendargues, after an injury which forces him to retrain.

"We recycle shipping containers into eco-responsible homes." Douglas owes his selection to carrying the torch to the creation of his company "committed to CSR and ISO 26,000, we are direct players in the development of ecological outdoor housing. Our homes are intended for tourism professionals as well as individuals to accommodate parents as an alternative solution to EHPADs or even communities for ecological social housing."

The business manager received an email this Monday morning at 9 a.m. "I knew that I had been pre-selected by Dupuy de Parseval, a bank in the Banque Populaire group. I applied in September 2023, on a proposal from the bank director.

Douglas is fulfilling a "childhood dream here, and then, I became a Sunday sportsman", he jokes. Pride, honor… "I am very attached to traditions and this goes back to antiquity, I like the idea of ​​entering into History on my own little level!". On May 13, he will cover his 200 meters on an individual carrier, in 4 minutes, “I should be able to get there,” he laughs. Family and friends will be there to accompany an extraordinary moment, and to immortalize it. "Later, I will tell my children about this photo, when they are still young". Highly symbolic, as is its motto: "Who dares wins".

Frédéric Matan: stonemason and Best Workman in France

Frédéric Matan.

His great-grandfather, Émile Matan, was a rugby player and sports assistant to three mayors, the last of whom was François Delmas. "It’was logical and important for me to participate in this event. " "It’is pharaonic to participate in a global event because’we represent values, a message to convey to so many young people." This “ambassador for crafts ” of the Chamber of Trades was supported by its president, Christian Poujol who proposed his name to the Olympic partner Banque Populaire du Sud, who selected him. "It’is the tradesman that I am, and who is keen to pass on to young people, in order to also give a better image of the building, to enhance the image of craftsmen, and fervent defender of made in France. I am a very committed person.

With his 34 years of experience as a stonemason and as the best worker in France, for him, "carrying the Olympic Flame is the opportunity to support the Olympic Games in France. My job, similar to high-level sport, requires endurance by constantly taking on new challenges."
Fabien Matan participated in the winter games ceremony in Albertville in 1992, « as standard bearer for the Alpine Hunters, so carrying the flame is an evolution that he no longer hoped for! "My job is high-level sport, it’s very physical and challenges every day. I never gave up on anything. There is no hard stone, there are only soft arms, that’s the motto of stonemasons! Passion conquers all!"

Oriane Lopez: Paralympic athlete and doctor

Orianne Lopez.

Orianne Lopez, former para-athlete, is a physical medicine, rehabilitation and sports doctor in Montpellier. 

"We must raise awareness about para-sport practice for everyone, make people with disabilities and their caregivers realize that para-sport practice is also possible for them, that they can register in their life project, improve their self-confidence and help them to flourish! Go for it! Former para-athlete, physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports doctor, I work at the French Paralympic and Sports Committee as well as with children, for the most part, suffering from neuromuscular diseases (CHU Montpellier/Institut Saint -Pierre).

It is important to me to work daily to support them in para-sports: family, school, leisure or competition. For all these causes, I am honored to carry the Olympic flame."

Amal Qobaa: student vice-president of the University of Montpellier

Amal Qobaa.

"As student vice-president of the University of Montpellier, I have made healthy sports a priority of my mandate. This commitment involves the creation of the UM sports and well-being village but also the strengthening of sports infrastructures with the aim of promoting healthy sport."
Amal firmly believes in the ability of sport to unite people, "while working for a healthier and more united society. My desire to carry the Olympic flame stems from my commitment to promoting sport as a catalyst for well-being."

François Pierrot : vice-president in charge of international relations at the University of Montpellier

François Pierrot.

"As a scientist committed to research that contributes to sustainable development, I am sensitive to the values ​​celebrated by Olympic sport: quest for excellence and respect for ;other. On these points, the researcher, the teacher and the athlete find themselves in perfect harmony. It is therefore an honor to participate in the journey of the Olympic flame." "We work first for others", such is his motto.

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