“The most painful thing was the association forum, where young people came to see us to ask us to find a new pool for them. » For Bernard Perrot, the president of the USSP swimming of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, the arson at the end of July 2024 which led to the closure of the municipal swimming pool remains a wound that is difficult to heal.
“Today, the club is at rest, it is not functioninghe indicates. We no longer have any members (there were 350 in June 2023) no activity, apart from a few volunteers, such as timekeepers or judges. This is what allows us to exist within the federation. It’s a little piece of sunshine. »
More than 600 students spread across other swimming pools in the metropolis
Because the decision has not yet been made regarding the reopening of the swimming pool. “When we met the new mayor, Olivier Conte, he told us that he was still waiting for experts for the work, which cost more than 1 million euros. We have to see what the insurance will reimburse and if the City has enough to pay the rest, since the swimming pool dates from 1972.”
“Our utopia would be to build a new pool, while keeping the old one, during constructionhe adds. But we don’t know how much it would cost. »
For the moment, the club should remain dormant, but Bernard Perrot hopes to be able to protect the employee from dismissal. “He is someone who has invested enormously in the club, a fantastic coach. »
In full “Léon Marchand effect”
As for the swimmers, “many were unable to join another clubsighs the president. The more than 120 children at the swimming school have no lessons and of the remaining 230, 50 or 60 have been able to find another swimming pool, at most. Many came on foot or by bike and the other pools are further away. »
A situation that is all the more damaging given that with the Olympic year, swimming clubs are full. “There is a Léon Marchand effect, we notice it, even among adults. »
The schoolchildren of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps were able to benefit “the solidarity of other municipalities, such as La Riche, Joué-lès-Tours, Saint-Avertin or Tours, and the help of state services”indicates the deputy in charge of education and youth, Amin Brimou.
It is mainly the students of CP, CE1 and CE2 who have priority, “i.e. around 600 students. There was no blockage in finding slots for them with other municipalities, quite the contrary, since they were facilitators. » Students will therefore be distributed where slots are available and rotations are already planned. “We had to move quickly, but we had already benefited from the solidarity of other swimming pools during the summer, for our leisure centers. »
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