The Adidas Arena hosts the Yonex French Open badminton championships from March 5 to 10. The opportunity to test this new room built in the north of Paris, in a neighborhood long plagued by crack sellers and consumers.
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Make the La Chapelle district “ the most beautiful entrance to the capital » was the campaign promise of Anne Hidalgo, the mayor (PS) of Paris. The project: transform this area of the 18th arrondissement, surrounded by railway tracks, plagued by drug trafficking. For the most beautiful entrance to the capital, you will need “ iron », suggest some residents of Porte de La Chapelle.
“ There is urban renewal and the drug trade has been moved », recognize four young people in their thirties who work in the neighborhood. However, it is there that, as part of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Adidas Arena was created. The building is the only construction of Paris 2024 Olympics in the intramural capital. With its 8,000 seats in basketball configuration, the large hall will be the new home of Paris Basketball from February 11, 2024.
“ We will see if it will still be a priority to ensure that the neighborhood improves well after the Olympicswhispers a young man. I don’t want drug trafficking to come back. For the moment, the police are there to preserve our peace. » The Arena aims to become“ a catalyst for the transformation of this northern Parisian territory around sporting and musical events, urban culture », declared Nicolas Dupeux, general manager of the Accor Arena, the Adidas Arena and the Bataclan, during a visit to the venue in early February.
Full-scale test
In the meantime, the Adidas Arena will host the Yonex French International Badminton Championships from March 5 to 10. One of the ten most important tournaments on the world circuit of this sport, which also serves as test for the 2024 Olympics.
“ We listed a certain number of risks before including this event in the Paris 2024 test program. In particular, we have major tests at the end of the week on airflow in relation to the steering wheel. We also have other tests on timing and scoring equipment », Explains Louis Knusmann, manager of the Adidas Arena.
For this full-scale test, particular attention is paid to timing and scoring equipment. This is also the time to ensure that the hall is easily accessible for para-athletes and that the flows are well thought out for the Games.
The Arena will also host rhythmic gymnastics next summer, then para-badminton and para-weightlifting. “ Feedback is conducted by the International Badminton Federation with athletes and coaches. Obviously, if they have concerns that we will be able to find during the Games, we will take them into account and we will see to possibly change our plans », says Louis Knusmann.
“ If you don’t come to badminton, badminton comes to you »
For Tomas Junior Popov, great hope of French badminton, the room is magnificent. “ When we discovered it, it was a big “wow”. Afterwards, we are used to this kind of venue because in Asia, we only play in huge venues like that. There were also the World Championships in Denmark in the Royal Arena, it looks a bit like it. The room in black and the light that is only on the ground, with all the walls in black, allows you to see the steering wheel much better than in other places “, he explains.
All week long, young people from schools in Île-de-France came to discover the place and badminton, an Olympic discipline since Barcelona in 1992. The atmosphere is good-natured. “ There are plenty of people who have never had the curiosity to come and discover high-level badminton, and today, we have ten international events each year in France. If you don’t come to badminton, badminton comes to you. We must take advantage of this setting, this lighting, with this field of players. We’re in Olympic qualifying, so they’re all there! Everything comes together to make this a unique and exceptional edition. », enthuses Yohan Penel, president of the French Badminton Federation (FFBaD).
Comments by Louis Knusmann, Tomas Jr. Popov and Yohan Penel collected by Christopher Diremszian
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