Before the Top 14 final between Toulouse and La Rochelle (9 p.m.), France 2023 announced that the RATP has become an official sponsor of the Rugby World Cup in France. Jacques Rivoal, president of the France 2023 organizing committee, and Jean Castex, president of the RATP (Autonomous Paris transport authority), signed this partnership at the Stade de France, in the presence of Florian Grill, the new president of the FFR. “The RATP becomes our 38th partner, it is not because it is the last that it is the least important. A dozen matches will take place at the Stade de France, underlines Jacques Rivoal. We are very happy with this partnership, we are co-constructing the event together, working in particular on the visibility of the competition in Ile-de-France transport.”
For his part, Jean Castex, who recalled that he had participated when he was Prime Minister in the creation of GIP France 2023, explains that it is a “classic partnership for a transport company”: “We Since 2005 we have been the official transporters of the French team. Our offer will be reinforced for the matches at the Stade de France but also to serve the Place de la Concorde, where there will be the supporters’ village. There will also be entertainment at Auber and Nation stations.
The president of the RATP also mentioned the risks of strikes or social movements during the World Cup. “We will do everything to (that there is none), that is the objective. We have some experience, there will not be a higher gauge compared to, for example, the matches of the Six Nations Tournament. We concluded a protocol, as we traditionally do for this kind of event, with the agents of the metro and the RER. I specify that all the trade unions have all indicated that they would sign it, specifies Jean Castex. There are ongoing discussions with station agents. This normally protects us from social movements.”