REPORTAGE – Personalities from the world of sport and song ignited the Olympia this Sunday for the association Premiers de cordée.
Sitting on an orange armchair without armrests in boxes, Patrick Fiori teases Arsène Wenger, installed on his left in a leather sofa: “So what are you singing to us tonight?“ The Corsican singer, like the football coach, was at the Olympia, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris this Sunday, for the 5th edition of the concert “Rockaway for Premiers de cordée”. The master of ceremonies? Christian Jeanpierre, former commentator for the French football team and… drummer in the Rockaway band.
Since 2017, every year, Christian Jeanpierre, ex-presenter of Téléfoot on TF1 and commentator of the Blues, multiplies the phone calls for this charity concert, which 1,800 people attended this Sunday. With the support of committed partners (Breitling, UNFP, Starwell, Scala, LU…), it is “an essential evening» for Premiers de cordée which takes place, exposes Nathalie Péchalat, former ice dancer and godmother of the association. “Our goal is to increase the number of interventions in hospitals throughout France so that as many children as possible can play sports within the pediatric departments themselves, she presses. Physical activity is essential for children.»
Wilfried Mbappé and Anne Sila in duet on the tube of Dirty Dancing
The prospect of helping by shaking the walls of the Olympia attracts beautiful people. “I blocked the date a year ago, smiled proudly Patrick Fiori. We only want to carry this project, this beautiful energy and these beautiful thoughts.Thus, in a sold-out room, artists and sportsmen took over famous hits, English or French, from Elton John to Queen via Celine Dion or Jean-Jacques Goldman. The opportunity to see the Olympic ice dancing champion, Gabriella Papadakis, share the microphone with Anne Sila, finalist of The Voice season 4. Or to testify to the astonishing vocal fluidity of Wilfried Mbappé, father of Kylian, on Time of my Life, cult hit from the movie Dirty Dancing.
Kylian Mbappé, scorer with PSG in the afternoon, present on stage
The dad was even joined by his son, a scorer earlier in the Ligue 1 afternoon: for his last match before the World Cup, PSG treats against Auxerre. A passage on stage of two brief minutes, Christian Jeanpierre trying to make him promise that he will come to sing the next time. “I know how to do a lot of things, but…“, stammered the star of the France team, expected in Clairefontaine the next morning. However, there was no need for Kylian Mbappé for this Rock’N’Roll evening to make the crowd rise, electrified by the talent on bass of Eric Di Meco, former defender of Olympique de Marseille, or the charm de Vianney, who came to close the evening guitar in hand.
The hospital is not in an extraordinary situation in France. Outside help is needed.
Arsene Wenger, former football coach and director at FIFA
In total, this private party raised 90,000 euros, which will contribute to the financing of the “Spot at the hospital” program of Premiers de cordée. “The hospital is not in an extraordinary situation in France“, recalled Arsène Wenger to the 1,800 people present at the Olympia. “Outside help is needed“Insisted the legendary Arsenal coach, now director of world football development at FIFA.
Exhausted but overjoyed once the lights went out, Christian Jeanpierre recounts “an evening of generosity». «It’s a spirit, First of the rope. And this spirit, we must not lose it“, he summarizes. The evening drummer savors before projecting himself: the dates are already set to do it again in 2023 and 2024, still at the Olympia. “I may have some ideas for next year“, mischievously slips Patrick Fiori. The appointment is made.
