The final of the 7th edition of the Paris Saint-Germain oratory contest took place on Thursday at the Constitutional Council.
Published on 08/05/2026 11:23, Reading Time: 3 minutes
A few stereotypes about footballers’ speaking skills were shattered at the event. Every year, young people from the PSG training center compete using only their words and arguments. The 7th edition of the eloquence contest concluded in a prestigious location, the Constitutional Council, on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
There was almost a stadium-like atmosphere within the institution, which rarely sees young PSG trainees dressed in sports gear, slightly intimidated by the ornate decor and grand chandeliers or by President Richard Ferrand’s speech. “This contest is an excellent way to learn to defend one’s ideas and express strongly, while respecting others, the convictions that each person holds,” said the President of the Constitutional Council.
The young football players, aged 15 or 16, were divided into ten pairs and had five minutes to defend their position on the topic of the day: children’s rights. They took turns on stage saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, protecting childhood means protecting the future.” “A voiceless child cannot defend their rights.” “How can we talk about childhood when we hear bombs instead of reassuring words?” “Because childhood is not a battlefield, it is a field of discovery.” “A child living in war does not have the luxury of innocence.” “A child has the right to dream.” “As author Jean Ferrat pointed out, one never heals from their childhood. Thank you.”
“We are responsible for the way we look at others,” said a participant in the eloquence contest.
“Over several months, we learned texts and learned to be eloquent,” explained a candidate who addressed the theme “Being born in the wrong place, is it a fault?” “I know people who are not in necessarily advantageous places,” he continued, “and it was important to me to defend this cause today.” “Eloquence allows you to defend a cause,” he added. “Everyone did very well,” emphasized Richard Ferrand.
“I almost shed a tear,” confided Vanessa, Nicolas’s older sister, a 15-year-old from Mantes-la-Jolie, Yvelines. “He is amazing.” “A child who dreams of becoming a footballer does not just dream of a job, he dreams of uniting, of bringing together,” said Nicolas. “In general, we think they are not very academic, that they are only good at running after a ball when we should be wary,” added his sister. “It taught me how to articulate when I speak, to know how to put moments of silence instead of saying ‘uh’,” rejoiced the young player.
How can eloquence help high-level athletes? “During press conferences, often about tricky questions,” answered Nicolas, “personal questions,” the young player said he felt “confidence” while being on stage. The duo he formed with Mélodie received the heartfelt prize.
For seven years, the Prometheus Education association has been working with PSG to train young people in eloquence. “At PSG and in about ten clubs across France,” explained Mohamed Slim, president of the association. “They don’t realize the talent they have. They set a glass ceiling for themselves and believe that athletes are not legitimate to hold convictions, to fight, to express themselves on societal issues. They can do it and they do it with talent,” he assured.
The first prize goes to the Zélie and Arthur duo, on the topic “Can we talk about rights when we have no choice?” They will meet on May 28, 2026, for the national grand finale, with the winners from 11 training centers gathered at the Palace of Versailles.
