After the first match against Brazil, Victor Wembanyama praised the “crazy” atmosphere at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium and in particular the “Kop France Basket”. Next to the players' bench, these “atmosphere professionals” were recruited by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) to make the stands vibrate during the French team matches. And it works!
With their drums, their megaphone and their djembe, Jérémie Cozzi, Quentin Larnaudie, Elsa Lafitte and seven other members of the association are, at each match of the Blues and the Blues, the “stand leaders” wanted by the CNOSF within the framework of these 2024 Olympic Games. As in other sports, within the framework of the “Allez les Bleus” program, they must set the room alight, via the “Carré bleu”, a stand for the most motivated fans.
The frustration of Euro 2015
A success for the associationcreated in 2019 at the initiative of Jérémie Cozzi, with the help of Quentin Larnaudie (president of Gouyats, the Boulazac supporters group) and Flavien Nivard (The Hive of Blois).
“The idea came after EuroBasket 2015, in Villeneuve d'Ascq” explains to BasketUSA Jeremiah Cozzi. “Because in parallel, there is a ” National Union of Basketball Supporters“, the UNSB, of which I am also president, which brings together around thirty supporters' clubs in France. In 2015, with the union, we organised a trip for around forty supporters from different clubs. With the Euro in France, it was the opportunity and we only did the semi-final and final period, over a long weekend here in Lille. We had superb seats, behind the basket, at the edge of the field. Like the ones we have now. Great atmosphere. On the other hand, we left with a bit of frustration and bitterness because we were in France, we had come with our drums and we were… bothered during the matches. Especially the security. Because we had taken the first rows and, behind, people who had taken seats for 200 euros were telling us: 'Sit down! Sit down!' So the security was constantly coming to tell us to sit down.”
A frustration increased tenfold by the freedom enjoyed by Lithuanian fans present during the other semi-final.
“Where we really had it bad was that we adapted, so as not to disturb. We were playing sitting down… But with our full weekend package, we had access to the next match, Lithuania – Serbia. And then, the Lithuanian kop arrived with 25 big drums, with 200 people, all in jerseys. That's what we dreamed of. It was their federation that had reserved 200 places, in the same place. And we found ourselves, with our places, with them. And there, no problem. The whole match was standing, getting into the mood, playing. And no one from security came to tell them to sit down.”
Jérémie Cozzi then asked to meet Jean-Pierre Siutat, the president of the FFBB, in order to obtain the creation of a “French kop”, capable of reproducing what already existed among Lithuanian and German fans, etc.
“We were really frustrated” confirms Quentin Larnaudie. “There were about forty of us in the stands and we couldn't do it properly. And to see the Lithuanians arriving and getting all worked up… It was really magnificent and we wondered why there isn't that in France, why it doesn't exist. And it was obvious to us to do it. It took time, several years, but we were determined to do it as we do, for most of us, every weekend, or at least every other weekend at home, for our teams.”
A worrying increase in the price of tickets
Initially a little reluctant, Jean-Pierre Siutat finally validated the project behind the values of respect, fair play and conviviality promoted by Jérémie Cozzi's UNSB.
And after years of development and a lot of investment from the creators, the FFBB can see the potential of the association in December 2018, in Limoges, as part of the qualifications for the 2019 World Cup.
Thanks to Elsa Lafitte, head of communications at ESMS Basket 40 (finalist of the last Landes World Cup), the association (250 members aged 7 to 78) is evolving in terms of design, its website and its logo. Membership is 20 euros for the calendar year, for a jersey and preferential rates.
The next goal of the association, supported by the Caisse d'Epargne? “Rejuvenate” the stands, hoping that the matches of the French teams will not be split into two categories, depending on the participation or not of the NBA stars.
“We suffered the backlash of the preparation matches with NBA rates” explains Jérémie Cozzi, because the number of members has dropped this year. “It will be part of the end-of-year update that we do with the federation. In Orléans, for example, it was 100 euros to go see the French team. In Lyon, it was two French team matches, but it was still 170 euros a ticket. So families and couples who usually come in threes or fours with the Kop France, especially if they wanted to buy more tickets for the Olympics… My fear is that it will become the norm. I am told that it is Wembanyama, that insurance has tripled. We will surely end up with affordable prices for the February and November windows, like in Brest, at 40 or 50 euros a ticket, then preparation matches with “Wemby” and company where it risks doubling.”
Don't let the room go out in low times
For the French teams, this core of “super fans” can in any case make a real difference, especially in the weak times, when the room can go dark. Because the “Kop France Basket” has experience of club matches.
“That's the image we have of supporting. He has to be there for the players, from start to finish, no matter the result.” explains Quentin Larnaudie. “It's obvious that even if we're down 4 or 10, even if it's harder to sing, we have to be there. And we're committed to encouraging this team as much as possible. For us, it's obvious that against Japan, there are ten seconds left, we're down 4, but that's when we have to redouble our efforts and go for it. There has to be someone who finds the energy to pull off this extra time. And the scenario is paying off. Does it work for the players? Surely, because they like to hear the atmosphere, because it allows them to capture an energy. Matthew Strazel, we know that he captured the energy of the crowd and that's perhaps what transcended him.”
For this, the small group enjoys a freedom very different from that of the EuroBasket 2015. While the CNOSF was only supposed to allow them a drum and a megaphone, they finally also have the right to two snare drums, a bass drum for the “clapping” and a djembe. As well as the possibility of navigating between the stands.
“In terms of atmosphere, there must be two drums to relay our songs, but the best is the djembe.” explains Jérémie Cozzi, face made up in blue/white/red and blue wig during matches. “When you have a djembe, you can stop the drum and just leave the djembe. Because people follow. There's this Brazilian side.”
Unfortunately, the CNOSF has organized things much better for the Blues than for the Blues. For Victor Wembanyama, the “Carré bleu” brings together 200 or 300 supporters, led by the ten leaders of the “Kop France Basket”. For Marine Johannès, this number is reduced to 17 or 40, with the drums placed higher…
But the “Kop France” has seen others, and Quentin Larnaudie is already savoring the evolution compared to Euro 2015:“That was the goal we had set for ourselves, with Jérémie and Flavien. To be present at the Olympic Games and to raise the stands thanks to the “Allez les Bleus” program. Thanks to the CNOSF, this dream we had became reality.”
Photo credit: FIBA
