Ten Lozère firefighters sent to reinforce the Paris Olympic Games during their leave

Coline Tirel et Mauryan Vidal (au centre) viennent de partir ce mardi pour les JO. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Sur la base du volontariat, dix sapeurs-pompiers lozériens seront envoyés en renfort pour les Jeux olympiques et Paralympiques de Paris 2024. Deux d’entre eux sont partis de Mende, ce mercredi 24 juillet 2024 en matinée.

They will probably not bring home a gold medal, but will return with a head full of memories. This Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in the morning, two Lozère firefighters left Mende with a professional vehicle to reach the Ile-de-France region, a little over 48 hours before the ceremony. rsquo;opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

A gathering in their honor was organized at the start of the morning in the premises of the fire and rescue center of the prefectural city, in the presence of Colonel Frédéric Lhomme, head of the corps of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of Lozère, and the prefect of the department, Philippe Castanet, in particular. The representative of the State who, by his own admission, does not "know how to remain silent", spoke in order to contextualize the sending of Lozère reinforcements to the outskirts of the capital.

Paris Olympic Games: Lozère takes "its share"

"When it came to participating in the Olympic reinforcements, we were certainly afraid. But ultimately, I find that we are sending a mobilizing signal", explains the prefect, satisfied that the department is taking "its share&quot ; in this "national event". Before adding, in reference to the Quebec singer expected to participate in the opening ceremony: "Perhaps Céline Dion will come to rest here at We. You have to expect anything!"

Respectively firefighters at the Chanac barracks since 2015 and at Marvejols since last year, Coline Tirel and Mauryan Vidal are the first two Lozère reinforcements sent to the Olympics. Assigned to the Yvelines department, they will stay a week in Versailles, before returning to Lozère by train, then by carpool from Saint-Roch station, in Montpellier.

Volunteers during their leave

A new pair will then succeed them, and it will be like this until the end of the Paralympic events, so that ten Lozère firefighters will have been mobilized at the end of these Olympics. "When I saw that it was happening during my vacation, I said to myself that it could be a great experience" , confides Coline Tirel.

"Very sporty", Mauryan Vidal does the same, driven by his desire to achieve success. be as close as possible to the athletes he admires. An approach welcomed by local State representatives, while in Lyon, several firefighter unions have filed a strike notice in order to obtain payment of a ’ ;prime JO".

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