One year after its opening, the new name of the house welcoming disabled sports and adapted sports at the Champ Fleuri complex was officially inaugurated this Friday, April 21, 2023. This infrastructure is now called Maison Bernadette Grimaud.
PRESS RELEASE – CITY OF SAINT-DENIS APRIL 22, 2023
This name thus refers to Bernadette Grimaud, an emblematic figure of disability sport in Saint-Denis, and elsewhere. From the 100m to the 1500m armchair in athletics or even with the 50m freestyle and breaststroke, this pioneer of disabled sports in Reunion has been able to promote these disciplines on our island, as well as overseas. Indeed, with 20 titles of champion of France, this Dionysian native of Petite-île, wrote the first regional and national successes in this discipline.
To pay tribute to her career and her commitment to Dionysian sport, she agreed to give her name to the house hosting disabled sports in Champ Fleuri. Recently rehabilitated, for the sum of 75,000 euros, this structure is gaining new momentum. It will now be able to accommodate the two disciplines of disability sport, disabled sport and adapted sport, in one and the same place. In total, these are no less
of 5 disabled sports associations which will already be able to meet within this infrastructure. This will also make it possible to serve as a place of reference for any information concerning the city’s systems around disability sport.
Through this action, the City wishes to prove that each Dionysian can find happiness in the practice of sport on our territory. As a sports capital, Saint-Denis is committed to offering the same opportunities to all citizens in terms of sport. At the moment, 180 people with disabilities practice regular and adapted physical activity. Through its actions, systems and support, Saint-Denis
tends to exceed 200 people.
Éricka Bareigts, Mayor of Saint-Denis “Bernadette Grimaud brings us all together today and she also brings together all the clubs and associations. But we know how easy it is to bring everyone together despite a common cause. Although during all these years the associative fabric and the volunteers have done a remarkable job, for a long time it was thought that a person with a disability had no place in society. This is why Bernadette Grimaud is a true model of inspiration today and why her fight means that you too can go and get medals on the other side of the sea. We are above all human, so we are going to open and lead this fight for equality, solidarity and fraternity for all. »
