On Avenue Jean-Jaurès in Nîmes, from the homeless to the champions, we play nature

Four bowling alleys on Avenue Jean-Jaurès bring together local residents in the evening and guests on Saturday or Sunday, who come to meet their families, sometimes from afar. While walking along this well-designed driveway, with trees with its beautiful view, sitting on a bench facing the players immerses passers-by in social life which is very diverse and colorful.

“We come to play, we don’t come to complain”

From the outbursts, the arguments more dramatic than real, the applause of the spectators at the successful slamming of the window, we are as if drawn into the world of a relationship that was not expectation Humor is required, more or less. It happens that if there is a dispute in the game, we are forced to act, without attack. Regardless of profession or status, we are there to have a good time, the language is polite, but direct.

So we can protest like Hervé, who fights against the city hall that “it does nothing to improve the bowling greens: too hard, too weak…” For Jules, there is too much fine sand: “We need more gravel.” We expand the circle with Fernand who complains about many subjects: “More scooters on the paths outside the cycle path, too many dogs doing their business, too many beer cans and other rubbish in the thickets.” Nadir is annoyed: “We come to play, we don’t complain. If you were more talented, if there were heroes among us, putting the town under attention, a kind of pub, at the town hall, they would take attention from us, but they have other fish to catch.s, he is good already! But, if they could improve them, that would be good too.”

“We laugh, let off steam”

One Sunday, a man who was a boules champion was testing the land, with his partner who said, “Play well. It’s important that I continue to perform well in retirement.” “He even played against the singer Henri Salvador, a great champion”trusting his female partner. “I only remembered the songs, I wasn’t up to competing with him. “

Homeless or vulnerable people mix easily with the different teams: “Here, we find ourselves, we forget our misfortunes. Short, “We laugh, we let off steam, we don’t look for noon to two o’clockAs Antoine says, and it feels good!”

Midi Libre correspondent: 07 81 33 15 81