MARIGOT--The Collectivité’s five-million-euro engagement to renovate the French-side’s ailing sports infrastructure has long been in the pipeline but encouraging signs that the youth will at last enjoy upgraded facilities from the investment was divulged by Commissioner for Sports and Youth Affairs Alain Gros-Desormeaux who gave The Daily Herald a complete overview of the work in progress.
The infrastructure costs have been shared 50-50 between Collectivité and State except for the Louis-Vanterpool Stadium where 80 per cent was financed by the State.
To put things in perspective the Omnisports Hall was built in 1995 and it has been decades since the majority of sports facilities have had any major upgrading work done to them.
“The first thing I did when I was elected into office was reorganise the sports department and integrate the youth affairs office (service jeunesse) and now we share the same building,” Gros-Desormeaux explained. “The next priority was to have all the coaches and referees from the clubs and associations sent on training courses to be adequately qualified in their field of work.
“And finally, securing the funds to renovate the infrastructure. My goal is to give the youth and the coaches the best tools to work with. It was imperative for each district to have infrastructure with lights, security, and restrooms.”
First of the renovated facilities to be delivered this year is the Omnisports Hall in Galis Bay at the end of March or beginning of April and follows the completion of the basketball/volleyball court in Sandy Ground at the end of 2015.
“I made Sandy Ground a priority to be completed first simply because of the great many youths living in that district,” he noted. “The old court was completely abandoned and being misused. It turned into a block for smoking weed and playing loud music etc.”
The Omnisports Hall was originally scheduled to be completed in six months but encountered a long delay when the floor had to be re-laid a second time. Aside from the floor, the lighting was redone, the building was repainted inside and out, restrooms re-done, and the partition that separates the floor from the first row of bleachers was removed. The parking spaces outside were also repainted.
“Because the sports hall is bordering the ocean, sea water and salt air got in through open vents and seeped in under the new floor, turning it into a lumpy powder,” Gros-Desormeaux explained. “Those vents were part of the original building but we had to close those vents up, get all the salt water out and re-lay the floor again.”
On the left side of the sports hall land the area is currently being prepared now for beach volleyball, beach tennis, and beach soccer and rugby, and should be ready at the end of March.
As before, the Omnisports Hall will cater to basketball, volleyball, boxing, handball, indoor soccer, and badminton. Because of its size it will continue to host major tournaments and competitions.
On the right side of the sports hall on the shore line a water sports centre will be developed by Collège Mont des Accords after the Collège received some European funds to create it. Pupils will be able to learn sailing and different water sports. Permission was sought from the Collectivité which is allowing the Collège, which is the owner of the water sports, to use the land.
“The idea was to maximise the potential of the Omnisports Hall, inside and outside, to offer as many sports as possible,” he explained.
Gymnastics that used to take place in the hall has now moved to a new location in Hope Estate, Grand Case. One of the difficulties was moving the equipment around.
It was also disclosed that boxing, for training purposes, will move into the former football association offices situated at the left of the Albéric Richards Stadium entrance. A 4x4 metre training ring will be put inside. The proximity to the stadium and football field also allows for physical training.
“Each sports facility will be closed for any access outside of training or competition,” Gros Desormeaux continued. “Facilities that are open will have a fence surrounding them. Each facility will have an office and restrooms for both sexes as now there is emphasis on developing sports for women.
“All facilities will have a caretaker on site from 6:00am to 10:00pm and this person will be required to open up and close up, keep the place clean, turn off the lights, and do any minor maintenance required. This person will not be a Collectivité employee but someone from the insertion associations.
“You will no longer be able to go into these facilities with bicycles or scooters because turnstiles will be installed. But bicycle racks will be available outside.”
Media Library Sports Ground
This piece of land adjacent to the new Library and Territorial Archives in Concordia is being prepared for four separate courts next to each other, one for basketball, one for volleyball, and two for soccer. They were largely unused before but the surfaces are of high quality concrete that absorbs water and are separated by a concrete dividing wall. Outside the courts an area is being prepared for six Pétanque courts, the French game of boules, for people who prefer a gentler pastime.
Cul-de-Sac (Collège Soualiga)
Here the courts are being completely renovated with new surfaces. There are two basketball courts and one Handball court. Volleyball and Football can also be played. The court surfaces will be enlarged from the present 22 metres x13 size to 24 metres x13 which is acceptable for recreation purposes. Competition size is 26 x 14.
Louis Vanterpool Stadium
The major work here is to have a permanent structure covering the four Volleyball and Basketball courts and two Handball courts on the other side of the field, to protect players from sun and rain. This facility in Marigot gets a lot of use due to the many schools in the area but less or no use when there is rain. Drinking water dispensers will also be installed as well as four new retractable basketball posts and rims. The court surfaces will also be renewed.
Work to cover the courts, estimated at 2-million-euros, will start in March/April 2016 and last eight months.
The football field is also due to be resurfaced but is third in line after Thelbert Carti Stadium in French Quarter and Albéric Richards Stadium in Sandy Ground. All three fields will have new synthetic grass.
Thelbert Carti Stadium’s field was done 10 years ago but today it is completely worn out and lost its green lustre.
According to the Sports Commissioner work will start on resurfacing the fields in April or May, beginning with Thelbert Carti. Then it’s the turn of the Albéric Richards stadium field, and then Louis-Vanterpool Stadium’s field.
The Grand Case football field, however, will remain in its natural state and is easier to maintain.
Spring Sports Ground French Quarter
Located behind the Gendarmerie, basketball and volleyball courts and a handball court will be renovated.
Friars Bay and Colombier
Basketball, volleyball and football field are in the planning and budget for Friars Bay later this year in June where the land is already secured. In Colombier the Collectivité is looking for a suitable piece of land for a sports ground. Senator Guillaume Arnell is reportedly wanting to contribute to the Colombier project via Senatorial funds. Land is also being sought for sports infrastructure in St. Louis.
La Savane
The courts here will be renovated starting June 2016. There will be an office and restrooms, and a spectator stand.
Centre for Excellence in Sports, Education
This future project endorsed by President François Hollande on his official visit in May 2015 will be situated in the Albéric Richards Stadium, at the left of the entrance in the present large unoccupied open space.
It comprises a building with accommodation for athletes, a restaurant, gym, classroom, room for massage and other physical therapies, a basketball and volleyball field, swimming pool, and a water sports centre.
“Nine sports are actually in the project for this academy at the Albéric Richards Stadium,” Gros-Desormeaux explained. “It’s aimed at kids who excel in their chosen sports but also have a good academic level. They have to be at a certain level to get into this academy. This is something that is going to motivate the youth to work hard in school. Ultimately we want to bring sports to a much higher level.”
He added the lanes on the athletic track will be increased to eight from the present six. The centre will have 30 bedrooms, four to a room, and a few rooms separately for coaches.
Alain Gros-Desormeaux thanked Préfete Anne Laubies for the funding contribution from the State.
