Team Saint-Gobain and its mentor Luc Abalo together for the olympic year

Margot Boulet (para-rowing), Renaud Clerc (para-athletics), Julie Dufour (football), Emma Lombardi (triathlon), Vincent Matheron (park skate), Antoine Praud (para-athletics), and Ludvy Vaillant (athletics) shared their experience as high-level athletes and their Olympic and Paralympic ambition.

Luc Abalo, a creative and positive personality with an inspiring career, mentor of the Team SaintGobain, was present to pass on, through his unique experience and achievements, the pleasure of the game and the desire for performance that guided him during his twenty-one-year career.

On this occasion, the Group explained to the athletes how its expertise in light and sustainable construction made it possible to build major projects for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, such as the Athlete’s village, by offering innovative, sustainable, and recyclable construction solutions.

"As an official supporter of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are very proud and happy to have formed and to support a team of very high-level young athletes. This team will strengthen the global collective momentum that is already at work among our more than 160 000 employees and will drive us to always 'Aim Higher'. This is our motto and our signature for this exceptional partnership." Laurence Pernot, Communications Vice-President for Saint-Gobain.

"These kinds of days are a breath of fresh air. They allow us to step away from the demands of high performance sport and to meet new people. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the 'now'. High level is a relentless quest for performance that leaves little time to step back and reflect on what we experience and accomplish as athletes. Taking this time is priceless to continue enjoying ourselves and staying motivated. The key to aim higher!" Luc Abalo, three-time Olympic champion and mentor of the Team Saint-Gobain.

"Aiming higher to make the world a better home" is Saint-Gobain Group's signature to mark its support of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and of its team of athletes. It embodies the individual and collective ambition that drives one to excel and meet the challenges ahead. It is what the world's largest sporting event demands of the athletes and what the challenges of decarbonisation in the construction sector requires in terms of increasingly innovative and efficient solutions.

What is next for 2024? Football, skateboarding, and talks

This day of sharing experiences kicks off an Olympic and Paralympic year full of major sporting challenges for the athletes. To help them meet these challenges, Luc Abalo will fully play his role as mentor, remaining by their side until the end of the Games.

The Group and the team will meet on many occasions in 2024.

Football and skateboarding will be in the spotlight. Julie Dufour will help Saint-Gobain organise a 5-a-side football tournament bringing together employees and clients. Vincent Matheron will advise Saint-Gobain on setting up a public skatepark near its headquarters in La Défense next July. In December 2023, the Group launched a series of conferences called 'The Saint-Gobain Talks' during which athletes from the Team Saint-Gobain share their experiences on topics such as resilience, performance, health, collective commitment, etc.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/22012024/team-saint-gobain-and-its-mentor-luc-abalo-together-for-the-olympic-year/