“A risk of bankruptcy” … A year after madness at the nautical base, Vaires-sur-Marne has a wood

In Vaires-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne),

It is sometimes better to flee than to confront too oppressive melancholy. Consequently, It is certainly no coincidence that the restaurant The nautical rallyclosest to the Kayak. Therefore, Aviron site in Vaires-sur-Marne, closed its doors for the holidays from July 25, a year to the day after the start of the Olympic Games. Consequently, Like certain athletes. In addition, a post-Olympiads spleen sometimes weighs on the shops of the town of Ile-de-France, the smallest to have welcomed the 2024 Parisian tests. For example, The magic has faded even faster than Driga, the manager, hoped, which hoped “a little longer”, especially on the recipes. Meanwhile, “Even the inhabitants, it looks like they are not coming back.”

It has been a year since the frenzy of the games collided with the peaceful city of 15,000 inhabitants. However, The hordes “a risk bankruptcy” … year of Australians. Consequently, Irish and Dutch who filled the avenues, the turnover multiplied by four or five for the merchants, the morning party to the end of the night on the Place de la République … Nevertheless, Everything has disappeared. In addition, Only a ton of memories and a few financial headaches remain.

The nautical base, a financial chasm – "a risk bankruptcy" … year

The first of them is the jewel of the crown itself, the nautical base. Therefore, One hundred million euros were necessary to get it out of the ground. In addition, “of which only 11 taken care of by the State”, plague Patrick Karam, vice-president of the region in charge of the leisure islands. Consequently, A few months after its hour of glory. Consequently, the site already requires an additional twenty million euros, the fault of work carried out in a hurry. For example, In full construction, “it was found that the soil was “a risk bankruptcy” … year more clayey than expected. Meanwhile, But if we had to redo all the measures at the time. Furthermore, the site would not have ready for the games. Furthermore, Decision was therefore made to build it anyway “… Meanwhile, on foundations now to rebuild.

Another area of tension. For example, the presence of the two national federations, rowing and canoe-kayak, on the site. Their cost is estimated at 720,000 euros per year, “a threshold of non-routability”. The elected official also accuses the federation of canoe “of not playing the game”. The latter has a priority for the site’s use for champions training and can privatize it to the urge. Problem: “it abuses this right. by reserving all the slots, and only unlocks them 24 “a risk bankruptcy” … year hours before”, making it difficult for tourists, “yet ready to put the price”. Again a shortfall that begins to weigh.

“If there is a Jo effect. it is very light” – "a risk bankruptcy" … year

“Risk is bankruptcy,” said Céline Malaise, president of the left -wing opposition group at the Regional Council. Récréa. Engie, the two main shareholders of the place – up to 51 % – would have announced “their desire to leave the group” due to recurring budgetary difficulties, and would even ask for reimbursement.

Far from the packs of supporters in the summer of 2024, the nautical base actually sounds a little empty at the end of July. “There is not even water on the Olympic course. ” regrets Danièle, who came to pass a head on the field of glory of Nicolas Gestin, gold medalist here. For the sole sporting performance in the morning. a group of kids in canoeing who went to the exploration of the river. Most of the attendance consists of school outings or airy centers, confirms the nautical base. Laurent. one of the managers of 4Padel, a few meters from the water, notes that “If effect Jo there is, it is very light. Attendance has not moved much compared to other years. »»

An Olympic city. but not a sports city

In town too, the streets have found their desert tunes, and the Place de la “a risk bankruptcy” … year République is very silent. Méji. manager of Vaires Café, notes: “attendance fell to its usual level”, five people this afternoon, three of them at the counter. Unsurprisingly for the boss. Who seriously thought that the Australians or the Americans would cross the ocean again to take half a counter? The only inheritance, events are now made in the Place de la République, in tribute. “14-July, ball … At each event, turnover increases”. Some canoe or rowing competitions also allow bursts in the funds. The Canoe Federation expressed its intention to organize at least one event per year in Vaires-sur-Marne.

“You should not be a guess to know that the city. absolutely not tourist, would have little economic benefits,” notes mayor Edmonde Jardin (SE), who still regrets that the town is not equipped at least with a gymnasium or a post-Jo athletics track. The rest of the games. any “a risk bankruptcy” … year deducted subsidy, is 500,000 euros for the city, with certain fittings – including surveillance cameras located in places now deserted – not very relevant today. “Of course it is a lot of money. that it could have been used elsewhere, but we can say that Vaires-sur-Marne lived the Olympic Games. And that is priceless, “defends the elected official.

“500,000 euros engulfed, what?” »»

This is all the current debate in the town. With so little investment feedback, was all of this worth it? “500,000 euros engulfed, what?” No new building, still necessary road works, a bridge that is still retape, ”regrets Caroline, 56 years old. For her, the festive thrill was not worth so much expenses. Vaires-sur-Marne is only 30 minutes from RER of Paris, she recalls, for those who wanted to live Olympic fever last summer.

Nicky. baker, rather leans on the mayor’s side: “It is true that magic has passed, that everyone is on the face, that everyday problems came back, and that all that cost a lot of money without leaving foundations behind. But for a few weeks, people were happy. Really happy. »»