Large nave, an unanswered project

In Saint-Ouen, the large renovated nave opens its doors, but without the Tony Parker Academy. What happened? A promising project waiting …

Imagine a legendary arena, where the echoes of rock concerts from the 70s mix with the dreams of future champions. In Saint-Ouen, the large nave of the island of Vannes embodies this paradox: a place steeped in history, renovated to shine during the 2024 Paris Games, but whose future seems suspended to a thread. While the inauguration is approaching, a flagship project, that of an academy of excellence carried by a basketball icon, remains in the shadows. What happened?

A reinvented sports palace

The large nave, built in 1971, is not an ordinary building. This sports palace vibrated to the rhythm of the guitars of Pink Floyd and refrains of Queen. Today, thanks to the funding of the Olympic Games, it is reborn in a new form, ready to host sporting and cultural events. But his story does not stop there.

The work, completed recently, has transformed this place into a modern space, designed to meet the needs of a city in full mutation. The inhabitants, during the first organized visits, discovered brand new installations. However, a question is constantly returning: where is the project that was to make this place a symbol of sporting excellence?

A promising academy … but absent

A few years ago, the announcement of an elite basketball academy in Saint-Ouen had caused a stir. This project, carried by an emblematic figure of sport, promised to train the talents of tomorrow while energizing the district. The idea was attractive: a high -level training center, renowned coaches, and an ambitious vision for local youth.

“We want to offer young people a chance to shine here at home. »»

Despite this initial enthusiasm, the project seems today in a standstill. The contours of the academy have been redefined several times, and the deadlines, initially set for 2025, seem uncertain. The inhabitants, them, wonder: why this silence?

The challenges of an ambitious project

Launching an academy of this caliber is not an easy task. Between financing, logistics and partnerships, there are many obstacles. Here are some possible reasons for this delay:

• Financial complexity : The costs of such a center, including infrastructure and staff, are colossal.
• Priority changes : The post-Jo crisis was able to redirect funds to other local projects.
• Coordination difficile : Alignment between public and private actors remains a challenge.

Added to this is a local reality: Saint-Ouen, like other cities in Seine-Saint-Denis, juggles multiple major projects. The renovation of the large nave, although successful, may have absorbed the energy necessary to concretize the Academy.

An Olympic heritage in question

The 2024 Paris Games left a ** tangible heritage ** in Saint-Ouen. The large nave is proof of this: modernized equipment, ready to serve the community. But this heritage is not limited to buildings. These are also promises, such as that of expanding access to sport for young people.

The absence, for the moment, of the Academy raises a crucial question: how to transform the infrastructures of the Olympic Games into sustainable opportunities? The answer could go through a collective mobilization:

1. Involve local associations to animate the place.
2. Develop sports programs accessible to everyone.
3. Create partnerships with schools to initiate young people.

In the meantime, the large nave remains a symbol of hope, but also of waiting. Residents want to believe it, but they need clarity.

The voice of the inhabitants

During recent visits, the Seniors of Saint-Ouen shared their memories with emotion. For them, the large nave is a time capsule, a place where they danced in the 80s. But they also look to the future:

“It would be a shame if it just remains a nice room. It must live, for our grandchildren. »»

This feeling is shared by many. The community hopes that the large nave will become only an empty setting, but a space where young people can flourish.

A glorious past, a future to write

The past of the large nave is rich. From mythical concerts to sporting events, she marked generations. But his future depends on the decisions made today. Without the Academy, other projects could emerge:

Each option has its merits, but none replaces the initial vision of a center of excellence. The ball is in the camp of decision -makers.

And now ?

As the inauguration approaches in June, the large nave shines with its potential. But without a clear project, she may remain an empty shell. The inhabitants, they only ask to appropriate this place. Perhaps it is time to rethink the future, with or without the Academy.

One thing is certain: Saint-Ouen deserves a space that reflects its dynamism. The big nave could become this symbol, provided that yesterday’s promises are transformed into the realities of tomorrow.

What if history was just beginning? The large nave, with or without academy, still has a lot to offer. It’s up to us to write more.