Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “A unique body of water in the world” and designed for the “high level”, the Olympic marina inaugurated in Marseille

The Olympic marina was inaugurated in the presence of Amélie Oudéa-Castéra Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. MAXPPP – Christophe AGOSTINIS

The Olympic Marina, venue for the sailing events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was inaugurated this Tuesday, April 2, in the presence of Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee, and Amélie Oudéa- Castéra, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic Marina of Marseille, where the sailing events of the Paris Games will be held this summer, was inaugurated on Tuesday in the presence of the president of the organizing committee (Cojo), Tony Estanguet, who welcomed equipment designed for the "high level" and to "stimulate new vocations&quot ;.

Located at the southern end of the corniche overlooking the Mediterranean, the new Roucas Blanc Marina, made up of six buildings, required a little more than two years of work for a total cost estimated at 44 million euros. ;rsquo;euros, almost twice the initial budget (25 million euros).

It has already been welcoming the Pôle France de voile and the athletes of the French team for almost a year. From July 28 to August 8, more than 330 sailors from all over the world will compete for Olympic medals in 10 disciplines.

A question "of’inheritance"

"I was training there for the Rio Olympics in 2016 and we were installed in Algeco… So it’s incredible, the buildings, the hangars, the space, it’s great. There is everything you need to perform", assured AFP Sarah Steyaert, who will participate in the Games in 49er with Charline Picon.

"What emotion, what pride, what a great collective success! This infrastructure is a marvel", for his part praised Tony Estanguet. "It’is equipment designed for the top of the top of the high level but also to encourage new vocations", he added.

Signage designed in Nîmes

Based in N&imes, the company Espace Enseigne designed the signage for the Nautical Stadium inaugurated in N&Imes. this April 2   Marseilles. Created in 2006, this SME with fewer than 10 employees provided the signage for the six buildings. After one-off experiences in sport (luminous basketball hoops), the Gard company decided to take on a new approach. to respond to COJOP 2024 call for tenders communicated by the regional building federation and pick up the kettledrum.

This question of "the’heritage" of equipment destined to have a life after the Olympic Games was also raised by the Minister of Sports and Olympic Games Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.

"Marseille will dazzle the planet"

"The champions will inspire vocations and the little Marseillais will be inspired by the victories of this summer", a she assured during a press conference attended by French kite-foil specialists Lauriane Nolot and Axel Mazella, who have real chances of an Olympic title this summer.

The mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan, for his part, mentioned "a seaside stadium where the best athletes will train a few meters from the kids of Marseille& quot;: "Entire generations of Marseillais will learn sailing there", he promised.

"We are deeply proud of Marseille. It’s a unique body of water in the world, the images will be magnificent and Marseille will dazzle the planet", concluded Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.