Laurent Boquillet (FRA) - director of the Meeting Paris Saint-Denis (© IAAF.org)
He hasn’t retired from competing yet – he wants to celebrate his 45th birthday next year by contesting the Hawaii Ironman triathlon – but Laurent Boquillet’s main energies for now are concentrated on Meeting Areva, the fourth fixture of the ÅF Golden League 2009. And, while the obvious centre of attention is Usain Bolt, Boquillet is no less looking forward to the men’s 3000m.
Boquillet, the 1986 European triathlon champion and former manager of Hicham El Guerrouj, is in his first year as meeting director of France’s annual circuit showpiece and he is thrilled that it will be his meeting that signals Bolt’s Golden League debut this season. But, with adverse weather forecast, expectation of Bolt breaking his 9.69sec 100m World record must be kept in perspective, which may swing the emphasis towards competition rather than fast times.
Hence Boquillet cannot wait to see Kenenisa Bekele take on Bernard Lagat over seven and a half laps. Bekele, one of only four surviving contenders for the $1m jackpot, and the last man, is facing – according to Boquillet and his informant El Guerrouj – what amounts to his decisive race for the a share of the big prize. And, to add spice to the occasion, Boquillet has arranged for El Guerrouj to be present at the start.
Asked to outline the prospective highlights, Boquillet said: “I think in terms of the Golden League, because he is still running for the jackpot, it will be Bekele against Lagat. That is a really nice challenge and something we should look for to the future in the Diamond League – don’t have just one guy running alone. I am more a middle distance fan so this race, for me, will be the highlight of the night, except of course Usain running the 100m because everyone is expecting him to run very fast.”
Boquillet expects Kerron Stewart (100m), Sanya Richards (400m) and Yelena Isinbayeva (Pole Vault) to continue on their path towards the jackpot but says: “The only one in danger is Bekele with Lagat. If Bekele wins he will win the jackpot because the two remaining races (in Zurich and Brussels) will be at 5000m and he will be in shape.”
Lagat, the reigning World 1500/5000m champion, was the last athlete to defeat Bekele over 5000m, in 2006. “Lagat ran 3:32 (3:32.56) in Tanger (July 12) with headwind. Hicham was telling me he is in 3:30 shape. The only chance for Bekele is to run very fast – they are asking for 4:54 pace for 2000m so it should be a hell of a race.
“I think Usain can do a World record any time – looking at what he has done in the 200m he can break it. The track is quite old in the Stade de France. Will it be the right surface to go that fast – because we are talking 9.68 – and to run that you need perfect weather conditions, you need the track to be fast. If everything is there I am convinced that Usain can make it but will all the conditions be there?” So what is the forecast? “Bad,” said Boquillet.
Speaking of the challenges facing him in his first year, Boquillet said: “Here we have two big issues – first we have to fill the stadium, that’s the main challenge, then how to create an atmosphere in such a big stadium so the people enjoy it and feel close to the athletes.
“And, of course, having the best possible start list. This was achieved with Usain, securing him into the race, then a strong communication plan to bring people into the stadium.” The experience for spectators will include balloons sent up to draw attention to key moments in competition and, as Boquillet put it, “being inspired by the Jamaican feeling of Usain being here, trying to put the stadium into those colours, yellow and green.”
Furthermore, the screen will be used to full effect. “We will be informing people between the events,” Boquillet said. “For example we will have on the screen why the 100m hurdles, why not 100m? Plus we have worked with people in the entertainment industry. Everything is timed so that we try to make a show and orchestrate everything.”
Will the Stade de France be full? “We have closed the third row,” Boquillet explained. “The stadium could be 70,000 with three rows but it was too big a risk so I closed the third row and we have only first and second and it will be only 50,000 but it will be full.”
How did Boquillet capture Bolt’s services while others failed? “I succeeded first because I think I have the budget. Then I decided to spend my budget on him – the others might have it but prefer to break it down and distribute it to some other athletes. I thought it was really important. I have to fill a stadium and right now, unfortunately, only Bolt can do that. So that was a priority.”
Being new in the role, Boquillet explains his background: “I worked for shoe companies and I was an agent for four years, agent of Hicham. My first one (client) was Simon Lessing, five times world triathlon champion – he was my main competitor and then I became his agent. Hicham was my second big star.
“I was doing the field for Paris (late 1990s), helping Raymond Lorre, who was the meet director when Paris joined the Golden League in 1998 – I was the athletes’ liaison.
“I was Hicham’s agent but, after he retired, I left track and field for three years – for three years I was working in soccer, I was working for Juventus soccer club in Torino. I was the general manager of merchandising and retail from 2005 until 2009.”
David Powell for the IAAF
