Sunday August 29, 2021, football star Lionel Messi, former Manchester United player, plays for the first time at the Parc des Princes in the colors of Paris-Saint-Germain. In the stands, a certain Andrew Anson, managing director of the British Olympic Association, the British equivalent of the French Olympic Committee, specially invited by Arnaud Péricard, mayor (Horizons) of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. At the end of the game, Andrew Anson is introduced to the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, who also attended the match.
The sporting event is the ideal setting for the British and French to check that they are on the same wavelength. At the heart of the discussions: the use of sports equipment from the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines) by the athletes of the British delegation to prepare for the 2024 Olympics.
Negotiations
After two years of negotiations, notably delayed by the health crisis, an agreement has just been finally signed, on April 28 between Sir Hugh Robertson, president of the British Olympic Committee and Arnaud Péricard. The royal city will host the training of athletes for almost all the disciplines in which they hope to qualify, in particular the teams of field hockey, football, athletics, rugby sevens, weightlifting and synchronized swimming. In addition to the PSG structures, the 12-hectare Georges Lefevre omnisports stadium, the Dôme swimming pool and all the city’s gymnasiums will be made available to the delegation. The French will also invest 2.5 million euros, financed by the region and the department to renovate the athletics track, and negotiate golf courses at Fourqueux and Saint-Germain to allow direct access for members. of the British delegation.
From June 2024, some 200 athletes will therefore take up residence in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Some have planned to come this summer for training courses and test the equipment. For the city, it is therefore a good deal, especially since there will be added, in the summer of 2024, several hundred British visitors, staff members, families, or guests, who will be staying on site and whose arrival will also generate economic benefits.
Lobbying
Saint-Germain-en-Laye has therefore pulled out all the stops to seduce the British. “We left nothing to chance to convince the representatives of Team GB. Of course, we showed them all the Saint-Germain sports equipment. But we also rolled out the red carpet for them when they came to visit the city. Hoteliers and restaurateurs of high standing have been briefed to receive them”, says, behind the scenes, Paul Bouteiller, recruited as project manager JO.
“We have highlighted the quality of our sports facilities, but also the great accessibility of the city from Paris and its living environment”, adds Arnaud Péricard. The “international” dimension of the city may also have weighed in the balance. The royal city is home to an English-speaking community, and its international high school is recognized beyond the borders
2,5
million euros, The amount invested by the region and the department to renovate the athletics track
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If it will ultimately finance little sports equipment, the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye nevertheless puts means on the table. In addition to hiring this project manager who is highly specialized in sports issues, it plans to recruit hundreds of volunteers dedicated to reception during the summer of 2024.
Because beyond the tourist and economic benefits, the mayor of Saint-Germain hopes that the operation will have positive repercussions for the inhabitants. “We expect concrete consequences for young people, for the inclusion and health of all. It is planned that representatives of the GB team will visit the schools,” insists Arnaud Péricard. The agreement provides in particular for exchanges of experience for sports clubs.
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