Paris (AFP)

Former ice dance champion Nathalie Péchalat, elected president of the French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG), plans to "do everything to rebuild all together" but "not to cut off all heads", a- she explained on Saturday.

Q: How do you react to your election?

A: "I am very honored by the confidence placed in me today (Saturday) by the club presidents present despite a complicated context. I do not minimize the magnitude of the task which falls to me, but in At the same time, I am very excited to be able to participate in the evolution of the FFSG and make it shine. It has been almost twenty years since Didier Gailhaguet was at the head of this federation. I am here to bring about renewal. "

Q: You are taking the head of a weakened federation ...

A: "It's been six weeks now that we have a lot of twists and turns, the image of the federation is damaged, the federation itself is suffering. We will have to work hard. We will do everything to rebuild all together. I do not want to cut everyone's heads. Inside this federation, there are skills that deserve to be kept, projects pursued, and in the territories, there are volunteers who work for its It will have to evolve this federation in a constructive and realistic way. "

Q: We feel quite cautious ...

A: "I am aware that there is real suffering in the federation at large and its members. We will work quickly, but above all we will work well. The idea is to build a common project, not to cut all the heads and to kick in all the directions. It must be done in a posed way. "

Q: What does it mean for you to become the second female president of the Olympic Federation?

A: "It seems that it is fashionable to underline it at this time ... For me, it remains anecdotal anyway. It is also good to have former athletes, young people, new blood, c "It's good to surround yourself with experienced people who know the house well ... We will try to make a fairly heterogeneous team, to highlight all the ice sports."

Q: Do you think it was necessary to maintain this election despite the epidemic of new coronavirus?

A: "Obviously! We had to respect the statutes: following the resignation of Didier Gailhaguet, we had five weeks to organize this general assembly. And without a president, we cannot fill the executive office (several members of which have resigned at the moment of the scandal of sexual violence, note) and the federation cannot advance. The federation organized this GA, authorized by the ministry for the Sports, by respecting the sanitary measures stated by the government. It is not to us, candidates , to say whether this election should take place or not. "

Q: How did you experience the twists and turns of the day, with the withdrawal of the other candidates?

A: "We're used to the FFSG unfortunately, we have a lot of surprises every day. Honestly, we would have done well."

Words gathered during a press point.

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