A SPECTACULAR YEAR-END CELEBRATION FOR THE AMBASSADORS OF ONLYLYON

17 dec. 2008

Nearly 400 Ambassadors attended the 3^rd gathering of ONLYLYON Ambassadors, yesterday evening at Gerland Stadium. The event included a show of the Olympique Lyonnais soccer club's successes and its projects for the future, but the main attraction was a behind-the-scenes visit of the stadium!

See photos of the event +

Jacques de Chilly, Executive Director of ADERLY, welcomed the guests to the Champions Club of Olympique Lyonnais. Matthieu Malkani, Director of Special Operations for the club, showed a video presentation of the history of Olympique Lyonnais and its recent successes, as well as the project for a new stadium. Everyone has understood the close connection between the club's fame and the fame of the Lyon metropolitan area.

The evening continued with a review of ONLYLYON's activities in 2008 to promote the Lyon economy under a single banner. The year's success stories include such international events as the promotional trips to Manchester and New York, along with excellent press coverage for the Lyon area.

The contributions of the ONLYLYON Ambassadors were also spotlighted. Four Ambassadors received a prize for their efforts:

Prize for the Ambassador who sponsored 16 new Ambassadors via the website: Thierry Vitoz, Head of Corporate Relations, IAE (institute of business administration) of University Lyon 3.

Prize for the Ambassador who introduced the network to 22 new Ambassadors: Jean-Noël Joatton, Director of external relations of Crédit Agricole Centre Est bank.

Prize for the Ambassador who detected plans for a major convention: the "Congrès aviation d'affaires Mars 2009" (business aviation convention, March 2009): Ariane Rubattino, Head of commercial development for Lyon-Bron Airport.

Prize for the Ambassador who detected plans for a company relocation: a foreign company in the field of biotechnology: Jean-François Yot, Vice-President of European Operations, SNC LAVALIN PHARMA.

Each won an invitation for two people to an exceptional concert by Julia Migenes and the Lyon Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Philippe Fournier. The prizes were awarded by Benoît Soury, 1^st Vice-President of the Lyon CCI and General Manager of La Vie Claire, Gilles Rabin, Delegate General for Economic and International Development for Greater Lyon, and François Payebien, Director of Economic Marketing and Strategy for Greater Lyon.

The evening ended with a cocktail at the Olympique Lyonnais Club Lounge and, for interested Ambassadors, a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium.

Locker room, VIP boxes, souvenirs of matches, the playing field: everything was opened up for the Ambassadors who proudly carried the ONLYLYON banner under the spotlights of the stadium and went away with an OL-ONLYLYON scarf designed especially for the occasion!

See photos of the event:

Video of the event +

Find out about the missions of the ONLYLYON Ambassadors +

Become an ONLYLYON Ambassador +

Find out about OL soccer club and Gerland stadium +

Photos: B-rob Photos, Sport Five

Hope to see you at the next ONLYLYON Ambassadors event!