If you have any questions on the CDMGE Academic Challenge, please don't hesitate to ask us!
Please contact Pauline Pasquier at +33 (0)1 55 50 04 02 - Email : pauline.pasquier@cdmge.fr

QUESTIONS

-  Who can take part in the CDMGE Academic Challenge?
The event is mainly open to students of French graduate schools (grandes écoles) and universities on our list of target schools. Several groups are concerned:

• athletes who compete in the decathlon events, whether or not they practice track and field on a regular basis
• supporters who encourage their classmates and take part in a variety of activities
• job candidates who meet and dialogue with recruiters and line staff of our six corporate partners (BOUYGUES TELECOM, CARREFOUR, EADS, GDF SUEZ, LAGARDERE et LOGICA) at the Careers Forum

Lastly, the event is also intended for employees of our corporate partners.

-  Do I have to pay to participate?
No, participation is free for all students. Even meals and transport are taken care of by the organisation, subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions.

-  Are my transport expenses reimbursed?
Yes, for continental France. If you can fill an entire coach with at least 50% fans (45- to 60-seat capacity), coach transport expenses are reimbursed.

-  What is the deadline for enrolment?
Athletes must enrol before April 26. Supporters and job candidates may enrol up to the night before the event, Friday May 28. Even if they are already enrolled as part of a team, students must individually enrol at the website. Click here.

-  What are the approximate opening and closing times of the event?
The coaches start arriving at Stade Charléty at 7:00 am. The competitions take place from about 8:30am to 8:00pm.

ATHLETES - To download the Complete Guide for Team Captains click here

-  To take part in the races, do I have to practice track and field on a regular basis?
No, regular practice of track and field is not required. The Challenge is also intended to provide an introduction to track and field and help you discover the sport's various disciplines while developing team spirit between people of various backgrounds. Even people who practice sports only occasionally are welcome.

-  Do all the members of a team participating in the decathlon have to be from the same school?
Yes, however they may also belong to the same broader group of schools (e.g. INPT, ENSAM ParisTech, Grenoble INP).

-  Can I participate in both the football tournament and one or more track and field events?
It might be possible but only if there are no conflicts in the scheduling for the various events. Remember that there is a substantial penalty for not showing up at an event. It is therefore advisable for your school to send two separate teams, or at least to have enough team members to deal with any scheduling conflicts and participate in all the events.

-  Does my team have to participate in all the events?
Yes, every team must participate in all the events. There are severe team penalties for being absent from an event, whereas placing last in an event does not entail any penalty.

-  Do we have to send a football team?
Yes, for a chance at the podium, your school must send at least one men's or women's football team, or one team for each gender.

-  What are the prerequisites for running the 10 km relay outside of the competition?
The 10 km relay will also be open to teams outside competition, i.e. teams not made up of students on teams competing in the decathlon. Up to 100 teams may also compete which are partially or totally made up of students, graduates (of any year), corporate partner employees, sponsors, the press, and the media.
Teams are made up of 5 to 10 people, including at least one woman. The first and last legs of the relay must be run by a woman.
You may run in several legs, but not consecutively in the same relay.

-  Do I need an FFSU or FFA license to compete in the decathlon?
No. However, non-license-holders wishing to compete in the decathlon must include in their application file: 1) a doctor's certificate of "medical fitness to compete in track and field" for athletes, or 2) a doctor's certificate of "medical fitness to compete in football" for the football tournament players.

-  Under what conditions is the track and field competition held?
The track and field events are organised, ruled and judged by the French Track and Field Federation (FFA). Its expertise will ensure the competition is held in conditions to rival the best international sports meets and championships the Federation organises throughout the year.

-  How many women must my school send to be eligible?
A minimum of 3 women per team is required to enrol in the event.
However, the women's events generally have fewer participants than the men's events. It may then be easier to land a place in the top 8 finishers in these events, and thus score points for your team's general ranking, since the number of competitors is smaller.
Enrolling as many women as possible in the women's events (100 m, 400 m, long jump, high jump) may therefore be a decisive element in winning a place on the decathlon podium.


SUPPORTERS

-  Who can take part as a supporter?
All the students in your school make take part as supporters. Even if they are already enrolled as part of a team, students must individually enrol on this website.

-  Do we have to send a team for every contest (supporters, mascots, cheerleaders, brass band, tug o' war)?
No, you don't have to send a team for each contest. However, participation in these contests will be one of the selection criteria and will offer you greater visibility the day of the Challenge, and increase your chances of taking away one of the prizes.

-  Who is on the judging panel, and how does the scoring system work?
The judging panel is mainly made up of employees from our six corporate partners (BOUYGUES TELECOM, CARREFOUR, EADS, GDF SUEZ, LAGARDERE and LOGICA), who take turns judging throughout the day, based on criteria outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

-  As a supporter of my school's team, what activities can I take part in throughout the day?
Several activities are scheduled for the day of the Challenge. More than a sports competition, the Academic Challenge is a huge student gathering focused around a careers forum with its corporate partners BOUYGUES TELECOM, CARREFOUR, EADS, GDF SUEZ, LAGARDERE and LOGICA. Supporters' challenges and fun activities are scheduled all day.

-  Who receives the 5 prizes for the best supporters?
The various prizes will be distributed as cheques or material prizes to the "main" student union of the school of the supporters/brass bands/cheerleaders/mascots/clubs.


JOB CANDIDATES

-  What are the opening hours of the Careers Forum?
The Careers Forum will be open from 8:00 am to about 7:30 pm.

-  Who is the Careers Forum intended for?
Students looking for a work placement, recent graduates, experienced applicants...all profiles are welcome at the meeting areas of our corporate partners, BOUYGUES TELECOM, CARREFOUR, EADS, GDF SUEZ, LAGARDERE and LOGICA. To enrol, click here .

-  Is there a preliminary selection of candidates based on their résumé?
No. All you have to do is enrol on the website as a job candidate, attach your résumé which will be sent to the company/ies selected, and head for the stand of the company/ies you are interested in on the day of the Challenge.

-  Can I meet several of the 6 companies at the Forum?
Yes. You can meet all of the 6 companies at the Forum, all day long.

-  Who will be representing the companies at the Forum?
You will be able to speak with various representatives at the Forum. Of course, there will be recruiters from our corporate partners, but you will also be able to meet line staff who will tell you about what they do in these large groups.