French Minister of Sports to attend RWC quarter-final

French Minister of Sports, Mr David Douillet, will be in Auckland from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October. On Saturday 8 October, he will be at Eden Park to attend the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between France (runners-up of Pool A) and England (winners of Pool B). Mr Douillet, who was appointed to his current position after a French Government reshuffle on 26 September, will be the first French Minister to attend a Rugby World Cup match in which his country’s team will play. Like thousands of supporters, he will be cheering for Les Bleus.

Born in 1969, Mr Douillet has previously held the roles of MP for the Yvelines département’s 12th district (west of Paris), and Secretary of State for French Nationals Living Abroad in Prime Minister François Fillon’s Government. He is very well qualified for his new ministerial portfolio because, as fans of martial arts will know, he has obtained great success in numerous international judo championships and has won three Olympic medals (gold in Sydney in 2000, gold in Atlanta in 1996, and bronze in Barcelona in 1992).

Mr David Douillet will be an official guest of the New Zealand Government during his time in this country. There will be limited opportunities for interviews with the Minister during his time in Auckland. The Ambassador of France to New Zealand, H. E. Mr Francis Etienne, will be accompanying Mr Douillet.

ENDS

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