Paris (AFP)

Vincent Collet and Valérie Garnier will be at the head of the French basketball teams at the Tokyo Games next summer, decided the French Federation, which brought in a newcomer to coaching women, Céline Dumerc.

The former captain of the "Braqueuses", a silver medalist in London in 2012, will become general manager of the women's selection. She will only take up her full-time duties in a year, because at 37, she wants to play a last season as a player with her Basket Landes club.

"The French team gave me the best moments of my career. Sharing my experience with the youngest is pure happiness", said the playmaker, European champion in 2009, whose future attributions remain "a little vague".

"These are things that will emerge after discussions with the staff; it will come together very slowly. I will be a player and I will not be completely free at first," said the holder of the selection record in blue (262).

The post of general manager is held among men by Patrick Beesley, with Boris Diaw as assistant. Both have been confirmed in office.

Vincent Collet and Valérie Garnier's contracts have been extended for a year, which was hardly in doubt after the postponement of the Tokyo Games, now scheduled for July 23 to August 8, 2021, because of the Covid-19 pandemic .

The boys' coach appreciated this "mark of confidence" and reaffirmed his ambition to get on the podium, in the run of the bronze medal at the World-2019.

- Full time for the Federation -

While he had previously worn two caps, also taking care of the Strasbourg club, Collet, 56, will now work full time for the FFBB. In addition to his duties as a coach, tasks will be carried out with French youth teams and in the training of managers.

This will also be the case for Garnier, 55, who had accumulated a club coaching role, in Bourges and then in Fenerbahçe, with the selection since his arrival in 2013.

The year 2021 will be particularly busy for women, who will first compete at the end of June for Euro-2021 in France, the final phase of which will take place in Paris-Bercy, before tackling their Olympic objective.

"I am sure that the situation motivates the players even if it can worry some. It is up to us to be relevant and not to forget the recovery. The preparations will be a little shorter and we will have to adapt. can (be entrusted) to Céline, it will be a real plus, "she said.

The French teams have already obtained their ticket for the Tokyo Olympics. Men taking third place in World-2019 and women winning a qualification tournament. The Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in the Japanese metropolis.

© 2020 AFP