Parasport, promoting sport for all
A solid partnership with Parasport
Since 2003, Societe Generale has been building a solid partnership with the Fédération française Handisport (FFH), France’s parasport federation, whose mission is to offer appropriate sporting activities to anyone with a physical or sensory disability, and to provide a structure for such activity. From leisure through to elite levels, the Group provides support for:
- regional and departmental committees and clubs,
- the organisation of national and international events on French soil,
- the France parasport teams,
- the development of youth sport. The Challenge Société Générale Handi-jeunes competition awards annual prizes for the organisations with the strongest involvement.
As a partner of the Federal Commission and the French national wheelchair rugby team since 2019, Societe Generale has chosen to provide particular support for this discipline.
These partnerships illustrate the Group's commitments, and in particular its team spirit – a value that lies at the heart of its DNA.
80%
of disabilities are not visible
9.6, million
state they have a disability
-
35 000
licensed parasport players
-
1 400
parasport clubs or branches in France
-
24
sporting disciplines managed by the FFH
Supporting the athletes that make France proud
Every two years, Societe Generale partners with France's parasport teams for the Paralympic Games. This worldwide event – which takes place 15 days after the able-bodied Olympic games – gives a remarkable boost to the profile of parasport through the success and performance of the athletes of the French teams.
In addition, Societe Generale is involved in the media promotion of the parasport movement through these events, with extensive behind-the-scenes coverage of French competitors and their results, particularly via the Tous Handisport (Parasport for all) Twitter account.
Societe Generale supports six elite athletes:
- Marie Bochet, an eight-time Paralympic ski champion,
- Perle Bouge, a second-place Paralympic paragliding champion,
- Jonathan Hivernat, captain of the French wheelchair rugby team,
- Ugo Didier, world champion parasport swimmer,
- Yasser Musunganya, Under-20 wheelchair athletics world champion
- Arthur Bauchet, para-alpine skiingworld champion
These Societe Generale ambassadors take part in conferences and awareness-raising initiatives on behalf of employees and clients across the whole of France.
Marie Bochet, Paralympic ski champion
Practicing sport at the highest levels requires significant personal commitment. Societe Generale has been actively supporting Marie Bochet since 2010, ensuring she has the best training environment and allowing her to do so whilst also continuing her studies.An eight-time gold medallist at the Paralympic Games and multiple parasport alpine skiing world champion, Marie continues her quest for titles with, notably, the next Paralympic Winter Games as her primary target. Societe Generale is proud to support this exemplary athlete.
Photo credit: Boris Sensamat – Côté Sud photo
Perle Bouge, world parasport rowing champion
Supported by Societe Generale since 2014, Perle Bouge is the2018 skiff para-rowing world champion. Perle has her sights set on a gold medal at the next Paralympic Games, after winning silver in 2012 and bronze in 2016. In parallel to her sporting career, Perle is a Technical and Sports Manager at the French Disabled Sport Federation (FFH ), and sits on the Regional Disabled Sport Committee of France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Jonathan Hivernat, Captain of the French Wheelchair Rugby team
Jonathan Hivernat has been a Societe Generale Ambassador since 2017. He is the Captain of the French Wheelchair Rugby team who won 7th place at the Paralympic Games in 2016, 5th place at the World Championship in 2018 and 3rd place at the European Championship in 2019. A multiple French Champion with Stade Toulousain, he has also won the French Cup eight times.
Photo credit: Léo-Paul Ridet - Lumento
Ugo Didier, world champion parasport swimmer
Ugo is a rising young French parasport swimming athlete who has been supported by Societe Generale since January 2020.
A member of the French national parasports team since 2017, he lives and trains in Toulouse. In addition to his sporting life, he is also an engineering student at the INSA engineering college in Toulouse.
Yasser Musanganya, under-20 World Champion in wheelchair athletics
Supported by Societe Generale since January 2020, Yasser is a strong challenger for the wheelchair sprint (100m, 200m, 400m) and middle distance (800m).
He lives and trains in Tours, France.
Arthur Bauchet, paralympic ski champion
Supported by Societe Générale since 2021, Arthur is the world n°1 in his category. Member of the skiing club of Serre Chevalier, he is skiing since 5 years old despites a rare genetic disease. He won 4 silver médals in the 2018 Paralympics. He will
aim for the gold next year in Pékin.
