The new sports-health center of Alès-Agglo is ready to welcome its future fans

The plaque was unveiled by elected officials and a state representative. Midi Libre – Paul Barraud

Built next to the Clavières sports hall in Alès, this space offers various services to help people practice physical activities.

A new ribbon cutting, carried out this Saturday, September 14, years after the project was launched by Max Roustan at the time when the mayor of Alès was also president of the urban area. Coincidence of the calendar, “We chose this date without thinking that it would become the national sports day by the President of the Republic”, notes the current president of the Agglo Christophe Rivenq. Emmanuel Macron had announced this decision a few hours earlier.

To put sport back at the heart of everyday life

The mission of the sports and health centres (MSS) is to welcome, inform and guide the general public towards various physical activities. They are aimed at everyone, but particularly at people for whom sport must be more than central in their daily lives: those suffering from chronic illnesses or loss of autonomy, requiring regular practice of a sport adapted to their needs; but also to the elderly and/or people in good health but far from physical activity.

This is why the premises also offer specific receptions provided by the Filieris prevention centre and by the Ma VIE association, which works to democratize adapted physical activities. The MSS will then be able to direct its users to programs, health professionals or other sports clubs.

A commitment from the State

With a total value of almost 1.3 million euros excluding tax, the MSS was largely financed by a loan from Alès Agglo. Christophe Rivenq, who regularly criticizes the State's disengagement from community investments, values ​​“a useful loan”. “It's good debt, you'll tell the future minister!”, he said, with a touch of humor, to Isabelle Lebeau, secretary general of the sub-prefecture. The latter, in thanking Christophe Rivenq for “his words”, was nevertheless keen to point out that the MSS was 27% financed by the latter. “The State is doing its utmost to help our people.” The Occitanie Region has also paid a subsidy of 300,000 euros excluding tax.