No more bickering between handball and Lille. Two years ago, some French handball players publicly expressed their dissatisfaction at seeing the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, in Villeneuve d’Ascq, near Lille, designated as the site of the 2024 Olympics handball tournament. zero”, at the time, of the international Vincent Gérard, In The voice of the North was replaced on Tuesday by the enthusiastic speech of the president of the French handball federation (FFH), Philippe Bana.
“The construction of this 4-a-side handball court is a superb opportunity for the FFH to promote this practice in a territory that will host the French teams during the main round of the Olympics”, he declared, during the inauguration of brand new equipment in the heart of the Lille Métropole stadium.
A residence for athletes during the Olympics
In this sports arena located a stone’s throw from the Pierre Mauroy stadium, the stadium will also host a residence for athletes during the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. The construction site has started, but despite our requests, the metropolis of Lille, which is piloting the project, was unable to provide us with the number of units that will be available.
Because Villeneuve d’Ascq will vibrate, during these Olympic Games, to the rhythm of handball, but also of basketball. Indeed, the two disciplines will intersect in northern land. From Saturday July 27 to Sunday August 4, the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, in Arena mode, will host 36 matches of the men’s and women’s basketball preliminary phase. Then from Tuesday August 6 to Sunday August 11, it will be the turn of the handball players to take to the northern floor to play the 16 matches of the final phase of the competition.
French handball players, if they are still in the running (but it seems more than likely), may be able to console themselves by trying to beat the attendance record for a handball match in France. It had already been established at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, in 2017, during the World Cup with 28,010 spectators and in a fiery atmosphere. Nothing to be choosy about, after all.
Pas-de-Calais, rear base of the Olympics
During the 2024 Olympics, the Pas-de-Calais department will also be a training ground for other disciplines. The city of Arras, for example, will welcome gymnasts, fencers, athletes and even kayakers in the city’s brand new nautical basin. And Le Touquet will serve as a rear base for certain delegations for the equestrian events.