Societe Generale, a committed player in parasport
20 years of partnership with the French Parasport
In 2023, Societe Generale extended its historic partnership with the Fédération Française Handisport (FFH, the French Parasport Federation) for a further 4 years while celebrating 20 years of collaboration. The FFH’s mission is to offer an activity adapted to anyone with a physical or sensory disability and to structure these activities.
From leisure to elite level, the Group supports:
- regional committees, departmental committees and clubs,
- the organising of domestic and international events on French soil,
- the French parasport teams, and in particular wheelchair rugby,
- the development of youth parasport.
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 reflect Societe Generale’s commitment to inclusive sport. They also highlight team spirit, a key value that lies at the heart of the Group’s DNA.
An active campaign to celebrate parasport athletes
In 2023, our 20-year partnership with the French Parasport Federation (FFH) was celebrated with a campaign that put the spotlight on athletes.
Key figures
-
9.6 M
people who say they have a disability
-
35,000
licensed parasport players
-
24
sporting disciplines managed by the FFH
-
1,400
parasport clubs or branches in France
Alongside those representing France in parasport
For the last 20 years, Societe Generale has helped promote parasport through events organised by the Fédération Française Handisport (French Parasport Federation).
Societe Generale currently sponsors six top parasport athletes:
- Marie Bochet, multiple world and Paralympic champion in Alpine Skiing,
- Perle Bouge, para-rowing world champion,
- Jonathan Hivernat, captain of the French wheelchair rugby team and European champion,
- Ugo Didier, para-swimming world and Paralympic champion,
- Yasser Musanganya, under 20s world champion in wheelchair athletics,
- Arthur Bauchet, multiple world and Paralympic champion in Alpine Skiing.
These Societe Generale ambassadors take part in conferences and awareness-raising initiatives for staff or clients throughout France.
Marie Bochet, Para Alpine Skiing champion
Societe Generale’s active support since 2010 has enabled Marie Bochet to train in the best possible conditions during her career while continuing to prepare for life after sport.
Photo credit : ©Luc Percival
Photo credit: côtés Sud photo
Perle Bouge, world Para Rowing champion
Supported by Societe Generale since 2014, Perle Bouge became Para Rowing single scull world champion in 2018. As well as her sporting career, Perle is a technical and sports manager at the French Parasport Federation (FFH) and sits on the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Parasport Committee.
Jonathan Hivernat, Captain of the French Wheelchair Rugby team
Jonathan Hivernat has been a Societe Generale ambassador since 2017. Captain of the French Wheelchair Rugby team, he became a European champion in February 2022 in Paris, also being awarded the title of Best European Player. He has won the French Championship several times with his club Stade Toulousain and has also won the French Cup.
Photo credit: Fédération Française Handisport
Photo credit: Grégory Picout
Ugo Didier, Para Swimming world and Paralympic champion
Supported by Societe Generale since January 2020, Ugo is an exceptional swimmer and Para Swimmer world champion. A member of the French team since 2017, he lives and trains in Toulouse. Outside sport, he is an engineering student at the INSA engineering college in that same city.
Yasser Musanganya, under-20 World Champion in Wheelchair Athletics
Supported by Societe Generale since January 2020, Yasser is a major prospect in Wheelchair Sprinting (100m, 200m, 400m) and Middle-Distance running (800m). He lives and trains in Bordeaux.
Photo credit: Didier Echelard
Photo credit: Marcus Hartmann
Arthur Bauchet, ski champion
Supported by Societe Generale since 2021, Arthur is the world number 1 in his category. A member of the Serre-Chevalier skiing club, he has been skiing since he was 5 despite a rare genetic disorder.
A podcast devoted to parasport
Within the framework of its partnership with the French Parasport Federation, in September 2021 Societe Generale launched a five-episode podcast on the topic of parasport hosted by Marie Bochet, multiple medallist in Para Alpine Skiing.
Marie answers the questions everyone asks through light-hearted chronicles that make parasport accessible and interesting to the general public. The podcast also includes vox pops and interviews with celebrities.
Go to https://podcast.ausha.co/tous-handisport to listen to it via your favourite platform.
