Breton Boy Targets Olympic Helm: David Lappartient Moves to Steer the Century-Old Ship

At 51 years old, Frenchman David Lappartient is raising the banner of “Sport is not a tool for sanctions, but a bridge for unity” as he sets his sights on taking the helm of the century-old Olympic Movement.

Forty years ago, an 11-year-old boy from Brittany sat in front of his television and watched Carl Lewis ascend to Olympic greatness at the Los Angeles Games. That moment quietly planted a seed of Olympic aspiration in David Lappartient. Now, four decades later, he stands at the epicenter of global sport, seeking to steer the Olympic Movement with the precision of an engineer and the passion of an idealist.

Lappartient’s career is often hailed as a model of breaking boundaries. He is currently President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), President of the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF), and Chair of the IOC Esports Commission. In 2024, he led the French Alps’ successful bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, championing a low-carbon proposal that promises to reuse 95% of existing venues—earning widespread praise from environmental advocates and setting a benchmark for sustainable Olympics. In the same year, he facilitated a 12-year partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia for the Esports Olympic Games, integrating virtual cycling and other digital disciplines into the Olympic ecosystem and bridging the gap between competitive sport and the digital world.

“We must not let the Olympics become a museum. We are the guardians of humanity’s flame of unity,” Lappartient declared during his campaign speech in Lausanne, his tone resolute.

His five-point platform has been described by commentators as “an experimental collision between traditional Olympic values and the demands of the digital age.”

• He proposes cutting 30% of IOC commissions to improve decision-making efficiency.

• He advocates for a direct appeal mechanism for athletes.

• He plans to collaborate with Interpol to establish a “red and yellow card” system in anti-doping enforcement.

• He aims to implement a continental rotation plan for hosting the Olympic Games, supporting African nations in bidding for the 2036 Olympics—the continent’s first opportunity to host the Games.

• He seeks to standardize rules for transgender athletes, reducing regulatory confusion.

Additionally, Lappartient proposes modular venue designs that could reduce Olympic infrastructure costs by 40% and has partnered with Microsoft to advance the IOC’s full digital transformation.

Amid increasing global political tensions and disputes within the world of sport, Lappartient remains firm in his belief that sport must transcend borders and ideologies. “Sport is a bridge, not a barrier,” he said. He opposes the Olympics becoming a battleground for geopolitical conflicts and calls for a renewed commitment to the Olympic Truce, positioning sport as a beacon of peace in regions of conflict. During his tenure as President of the French NOC, he increased youth sports participation rates by 300%, successfully balancing grassroots development with elite performance. To him, inclusivity and fairness are not just Olympic ideals but the foundation of future governance.

Despite endorsements from 39 African nations and the backing of major tech companies, Lappartient’s campaign faces significant challenges. North American broadcasters are concerned that budget cuts will affect commercial returns, traditional sports federations question the legitimacy of esports within the Olympic framework, and some IOC members remain cautious about his anti-corruption proposals. In response, Lappartient has emphasized that virtual competitions will not occupy traditional Olympic quotas, offering reassurance to conservative stakeholders. He has also pledged to allocate five new pilot events to Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Winter Games bid, striving to find common ground between reform and balance.

If elected, this boy from Brittany—whose Olympic dream was ignited by champions—hopes to lead the Olympic Movement into a new era, guided by an engineer’s precision and a reformer’s courage. “We are not just torchbearers; we are here to ignite hope,” he said.