Dieux du Stade

{{short description|French nude calendar series}}

{{For|the German film released in French as Les Dieux du Stade|Olympia (1938 film)}}

File:DieuxDuStade.png]]

Dieux du Stade ({{trans}} 'Gods of the Stadium', stylized as Dievx dv Stade) is a nude calendar produced by Stade Français, a French professional rugby union club based in Paris. Conceived by club president Max Guazzini as a marketing initiative to promote the club and shift the image of rugby, the calendar features nude and semi-nude photography of the club's members and other sportsmen, occasionally in a homoerotic context. The calendar was first published in 2001, and most recently in 2020. At its peak, Dieux du Stade sold approximately 180,000 copies annually, and by 2019 had sold approximately 1.6  million copies in total.

History

Dieux du Stade was conceived by Max Guazzini, who served as president of Stade Français from 1992 to 2011. A former president of the NRJ Group, Dieux du Stade was one of several marketing initiatives by Guazzini aimed at promoting the club and changing the image of rugby as a sport; other tactics included introducing pink uniforms for Stade Français, and recruiting Madonna and Naomi Campbell to be official sponsors for the club.

The first Dieux du Stade was released for the 2001 calendar year. It features nude and semi-nude photographs of Stade Français' players, occasionally in homoerotic scenarios, though later editions of the calendar expanded beyond Stade Français to feature male athletes from other clubs and sports. The photographer for each edition of Dieux du Stade varies; individuals who have shot the calendar include Steven Klein, Peter Lindbergh, Tony Duran, and François Rousseau. Photographs included in Dieux du Stade have also been published as coffee table books.

Dieux du Stade expanded significantly in popularity in 2004 with the release of Dieux du Stade: Le making of du calendrier 2004, a DVD featuring documentary-style behind-the-scenes footage of that year's photoshoot; similar DVDs would be released for subsequent editions of the calendar. At its peak Dieux du Stade sold approximately 180,000 copies per year, and earned up to €2.3 million annually for Stade Français. By 2019, an estimated 1.6 million copies of Dieux du Stade calendars had been sold. A portion of the profits for some editions of the calendar were donated to charity, while Stade Français received approximately 50 percent of the calendar's sale price (€29 in 2019). According to Guazzini, sales from Dieux du Stade "helped finance the club for many years".

The calendar has occasionally attracted criticism and controversy. Racing 92 attempted to have photographs of player Henry Chavancy removed from the 2012 edition of the calendar days before it was slated to be released, calling it a "slight on Racing's image" and claiming that Chavancy had not sought permission to participate from club management; the calendar was ultimately published without redactions. A frontal nude image of mixed martial arts fighter Sylvain Potard in the 2016 edition of the calendar received significant media attention in France due to the large size of Potard's genitals.

By 2019, annual sales for Dieux du Stade had fallen to 50,000 copies, a trend Libération attributed to a general decline in the popularity of physical calendars amid increasing digitization. Vanity Fair France speculated that the calendar's shift in the mid- to late 2010s towards glossy high fashion-styled photography also contributed to a decline in popularity, a trend the 2020 edition of the calendar attempted to reverse by incorporating a more naturalistic aesthetic. The most recent edition of the calendar was released for the 2020 calendar year; the 2021 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no subsequent editions have been produced.

List of editions

{{multiple image|perrow = 3|total_width=350

| image1 = Mirco Bergamasco 2015.jpg

| image2 = Sergio Parisse 2017.jpg

| image3 = Dimitri Szarzewski cropped.jpg

| image4 = Scott LaValla Stade francais 2012-03-03 n01.jpg

| image5 = Alexandre Flanquart Stade francais 2012-03-03.jpg

| image6 = Maxime Mermoz 2018.jpg

| footer = Selected Dieux du Stade cover models. Top row: Mirco Bergamasco (2004), Sergio Parisse (2009 and 2016), Dimitri Szarzewski (2011). Bottom row: Scott LaValla (2013), Alexandre Flanquart (2014), Maxime Mermoz (2018)

}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"|Year

!scope="col"|Photographer

!scope="col"|Cover model

!scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope=row|2001

|rowspan="2"|{{sort|Gautier|Kris Gautier}}

|{{sort|James|{{flagicon|Canada}} Mike James}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |last1=Loupien |first1=Serge |title=Mike James, la nostalgie de l'avant |url=https://www.liberation.fr/sports/2003/05/03/mike-james-la-nostalgie-de-l-avant_432678/ |website=Libération |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |date=May 3, 2003 |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930011815/https://www.liberation.fr/sports/2003/05/03/mike-james-la-nostalgie-de-l-avant_432678/ |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2002

|{{sort|Lombard|{{flagicon|France}} Thomas Lombard}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Splash of Galliano |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2001/11/29/splash-of-galliano/ |website=Sun Sentinel |access-date=January 28, 2024 |date=November 29, 2001 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2001/11/29/splash-of-galliano/ |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2003

|{{sort|Vriens|Mathias Vriens}}

|{{sort|Corleto|{{flagicon|Argentina}} Ignacio Corleto}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Les dieux sexy du stade |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2002/11/10/281616-les-dieux-sexy-du-stade.html |website=La Dépêche |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |date=October 11, 2002 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2002/11/10/281616-les-dieux-sexy-du-stade.html |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2004

|{{sort|Rousseau|François Rousseau}}

|{{sort|Bergamasco|{{flagicon|Italy}} Mirco Bergamasco}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Daniel |title=Very Rugged Ruggers |journal=Out |issue=July 2005 |page=24}}

scope=row|2005

|{{sort|Smith|Carter Smith}}

|{{sort|Sarraméa|{{flagicon|France}} Olivier Sarraméa}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Calendrier DIEVX DV STADE 2005 |url=http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2005&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |website=Stade.fr |access-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010645/http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2005&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |language=French}}

scope=row|2006

|{{sort|Goudon|Fred Goudon}}

|{{sort|Hernández|{{flagicon|Argentina}} Juan Martín Hernández}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Calendrier DIEVX DV STADE 2006 |url=http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2006&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |website=Stade.fr |access-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011153207/http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2006&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |language=French}}

scope=row|2007

|{{sort|Vivanco|Mariano Vivanco}}

|{{sort|Arias|{{flagicon|France}} Julien Arias}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=CALENDRIER DIEVX DV STADE 2007 |url=http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2007&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |website=Stade.fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011163743/http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2007&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |language=French}}

scope=row|2008

|{{sort|Klein|Steven Klein}}

|{{sort|Messina|{{flagicon|France}} Geoffroy Messina}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=DIEVX DV STADIUM CALENDAR 2008 |url=http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2008&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |website=Stade.fr |access-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010650/http://boutique.stade.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=13&ref=DDS2008&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=4 |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}

scope=row|2009

|{{sort|Lindbergh|Peter Lindbergh}}

|{{sort|Parisse|{{flagicon|Italy}} Sergio Parisse}}

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |title=Sergio Parisse, en une des Dieux du stade en 2009 et 2016 |url=https://www.purepeople.com/media/sergio-parisse-en-une-des-dieux-du_m1937181 |website=Purepeople |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011446/https://www.purepeople.com/media/sergio-parisse-en-une-des-dieux-du_m1937181 |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2010

|{{sort|Duran|Tony Duran}}

|{{sort|Haskell|{{flagicon|England}} James Haskell}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |last1=Zeigler |first1=Cyd |title=Dieux du Stade coverboy James Haskell |url=https://www.outsports.com/2009/8/25/4048508/dieux-du-stade-coverboy-james-haskell |website=Outsports |access-date=January 28, 2024 |date=August 25, 2009 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.outsports.com/2009/8/25/4048508/dieux-du-stade-coverboy-james-haskell |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2011

|rowspan="3"|{{sort|Rousseau|François Rousseau}}

|{{sort|Szarzewski|{{flagicon|France}} Dimitri Szarzewski}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Dimitri Szarzewski pour le calendrier des Dieux du stade 2010, photographié par François Rousseau |url=https://www.purepeople.com/media/dimitri-szarzewski-pour-le-calendrier_m469123 |website=Purepeople |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.purepeople.com/media/dimitri-szarzewski-pour-le-calendrier_m469123 |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2012

|{{sort|Torresin|{{flagicon|France}} {{ill|Sébastien Torresin|fr|Sébastien Torresin}}}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Sébastien Torresin parmi les " Dieux du Stade " |url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/rugby/prod2/sebastien-torresin-parmi-les-dieux-du-stade-9572058.php |website=Sud Ouest |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |date=September 19, 2011 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/rugby/prod2/sebastien-torresin-parmi-les-dieux-du-stade-9572058.php |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2013

|{{sort|LaValla|{{flagicon|United States}} Scott LaValla}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Scott Lavalla pose dans l'édition 2013 des Dieux du stade |url=https://www.purepeople.com/media/pose-dans-l-edition-2013-des-dievx-dv_m948483 |website=Purepeople |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.purepeople.com/media/pose-dans-l-edition-2013-des-dievx-dv_m948483 |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2014

|rowspan="3"|{{sort|Goudon|Fred Goudon}}

|{{sort|Flanquart|{{flagicon|France}} Alexandre Flanquart}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Dieux du stade 2014: Un retour aux sources tout en muscles et sensualité |url=https://www.purepeople.com/article/dieux-du-stade-2014-un-retour-aux-sources-tout-en-muscles-et-sensualite_a129196/1 |website=Purepeople |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |date=October 2, 2013 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011446/https://www.purepeople.com/article/dieux-du-stade-2014-un-retour-aux-sources-tout-en-muscles-et-sensualite_a129196/1 |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2015

|{{sort|Parra|{{flagicon|France}} Morgan Parra}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Sports stars strip off for calendar |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Archive/Sports-stars-strip-off-for-calendar |website=The Connexion |access-date=January 28, 2024 |date=November 30, 2016 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011446/https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Archive/Sports-stars-strip-off-for-calendar |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2016

|{{sort|Parisse|{{flagicon|Italy}} Sergio Parisse}}

|style="text-align:center;"|

scope=row|2017

|rowspan="2"|{{sort|Andreou|Errikos Andreou}}

|{{sort|Bouhraoua|{{flagicon|France}} Terry Bouhraoua}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Photos – Découvrez les Dieux du Stade version Dieux de l'Olympe |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/tous-les-sports/les-dieux-du-stade-version-dieux-de-l-olympe-1473887067 |website=France Bleu |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |date=September 15, 2016 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/tous-les-sports/les-dieux-du-stade-version-dieux-de-l-olympe-1473887067 |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2018

|{{sort|Mermoz|{{flagicon|France}} Maxime Mermoz}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |last1=Stroude |first1=Will |title=Male sports stars strip naked for Dieux du Stade 2018 calendar |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/sexuality/male-sports-stars-strip-naked-for-dieux-du-stade-2018-calendar-pics-293905/ |website=Attitude |access-date=January 28, 2024 |date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/sexuality/male-sports-stars-strip-naked-for-dieux-du-stade-2018-calendar-pics-293905/ |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2019

|{{sort|Baron|Ludovic Baron}}

|{{sort|Daguin|{{flagicon|France}} {{ill|Clément Daguin|fr|Clément Daguin}}}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Camille |title=Les Dieux du stade 2019 : les premières photos officielles nous en mettent encore plein la vue ! |url=https://www.closermag.fr/people/les-dieux-du-stade-2019-les-premieres-photos-officielles-nous-en-mettent-encore-879167#item=1 |website=Closer |access-date=January 28, 2024 |date=April 10, 2018 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011446/https://www.closermag.fr/people/les-dieux-du-stade-2019-les-premieres-photos-officielles-nous-en-mettent-encore-879167#item=1 |url-status=live }}

scope=row|2020

|{{sort|Carlotti|Pierre-Ange Carlotti}}

|{{sort|Plisson|{{flagicon|France}} Jules Plisson}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |last1=Couturié |first1=Martin |title=Jules Plisson fait la couverture du calendrier des Dieux du Stade 2020 |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/scan-sport/actualites/plisson-fera-la-couverture-du-calendrier-des-dieux-du-stade-2020-972315 |website=Le Figaro |access-date=January 28, 2024 |language=French |date=September 4, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128011445/https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/scan-sport/actualites/plisson-fera-la-couverture-du-calendrier-des-dieux-du-stade-2020-972315 |url-status=live }}

See also

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=BOOKS: Gods of the Stadium |url=http://www.advocate.com/books/2016/2/18/books-gods-stadium |website=The Advocate |access-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219100146/http://www.advocate.com/books/2016/2/18/books-gods-stadium |archive-date=February 19, 2016 |date=February 18, 2016}}

{{cite web |title=Rugby ruck over nude calendar |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Archive/Rugby-ruck-over-nude-calendar |website=The Connexion |access-date=January 27, 2024 |date=February 17, 2017 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127070653/https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Archive/Rugby-ruck-over-nude-calendar |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |title=Nude calendar irks Racing boss |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/nude-calendar-irks-racing-boss-20110926 |website=News24 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |date=September 26, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240215003751/https://www.news24.com/sport/nude-calendar-irks-racing-boss-20110926 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=Ottavi |first1=Marie |title=Les Dieux du stade dans leur plus simple appareil |url=https://www.liberation.fr/arts/2019/11/21/les-dieux-du-stade-dans-leur-plus-simple-appareil_1764810/ |website=Libération |language=French |date=November 21, 2019 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004154635/https://www.liberation.fr/arts/2019/11/21/les-dieux-du-stade-dans-leur-plus-simple-appareil_1764810/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite journal |title=Max Guazzini: "On doit rouvrir les stades aux spectateurs" |journal=Rugby Magazine |date=March 24, 2021 |issue=23 |url=https://www.lequotidiendusport.fr/max-guazzini-on-doit-rouvrir-les-stades-aux-spectateurs/ |language=French |access-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127051201/https://www.lequotidiendusport.fr/max-guazzini-on-doit-rouvrir-les-stades-aux-spectateurs/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |title=Le nouveau calendrier des Dieux du Stade arrive le 16 septembre! |url=https://www.marieclaire.fr/,le-nouveau-calendrier-des-dieux-du-stade,20122,34075.asp |website=Marie Claire |access-date=January 27, 2024 |language=French |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127192659/https://www.marieclaire.fr/,le-nouveau-calendrier-des-dieux-du-stade,20122,34075.asp |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=Buzinski |first1=Jim |title=Dieux Du Stade 2014 calendar features rugby players and their friends |url=https://www.outsports.com/2013/10/21/4861186/dieux-du-stade-2014-calendar-features-rugby-players-and-their-friends |website=Outsports |access-date=January 27, 2024 |date=October 21, 2013 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127043345/https://www.outsports.com/2013/10/21/4861186/dieux-du-stade-2014-calendar-features-rugby-players-and-their-friends |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=Cécilia |first1=Cherrier |title=L'étonnante anatomie du Haut-Saônois Sylvain Potard affole les fans des Dieux du Stade |url=https://www.estrepublicain.fr/edition-de-vesoul-haute-saone/2015/09/24/l-etonnante-anatomie-du-haut-saonois-sylvain-potard-dans-les-dieux-du-stade |website=L'Est Républicain |access-date=January 27, 2024 |language=French |date=September 24, 2015 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127055440/https://www.estrepublicain.fr/edition-de-vesoul-haute-saone/2015/09/24/l-etonnante-anatomie-du-haut-saonois-sylvain-potard-dans-les-dieux-du-stade |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=o |first1=Joachim |title=Adil Rami: Le Lillois se déshabille... Sera-t-il plus sexy que les rugbymen ? |url=https://www.purepeople.com/article/adil-rami-le-lillois-se-deshabille-sera-t-il-plus-sexy-que-les-rugbymen_a71455/1 |website=Purepeople |access-date=January 27, 2024 |date=January 7, 2011 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127050118/https://www.purepeople.com/article/adil-rami-le-lillois-se-deshabille-sera-t-il-plus-sexy-que-les-rugbymen_a71455/1 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=Smithfield |first1=Jackie |title=Yohan Cabaye Stripping For Charity Calendar |url=https://www.themag.co.uk/2013/10/video-exclusive-yohan-cabaye-stripping-for-charity-calendar/ |website=The Mag |date=5 October 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127043345/https://www.themag.co.uk/2013/10/video-exclusive-yohan-cabaye-stripping-for-charity-calendar/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=Krehl |first1=Margaux |title=Comment le calendrier des Dieux du Stade devient un objet branché |url=https://www.vanityfair.fr/mode/story/le-calendrier-des-dieux-du-stade-2020-devient-il-branche-/10282 |website=Vanity Fair France |access-date=January 27, 2024 |language=French |date=September 4, 2019 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127050117/https://www.vanityfair.fr/mode/story/le-calendrier-des-dieux-du-stade-2020-devient-il-branche-/10282 |url-status=live }}

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