After the euphoria of summer, there is incomprehension for fans of the Games. Organized in around twenty cities in France by the Paris 2024 committee, the Olympic clearance sale was to take place this Saturday, October 5 at the Villeneuve-d’Ascq Stadium. But the event was canceled at the last minute, writes The Voice of the North.
On rembobine
It was at the heart of summer that the organizing committee announced the holding of special Olympic clearance sales in several “long-standing” cities. The 52 basketball and handball matches attracted 1.3 million spectators to the Pierre-Mauroy stadium during this crazy fortnight which attracted visitors from all over the world to the metropolis of Lille.
With the start of the school year, everyone has come down from their clouds but the prospect of obtaining a final souvenir of the Olympics has kept fans and collectors in suspense in recent weeks. Volunteer or official outfits, cups, napkins, decorations, flags… So many objects that Paris 2024 has decided to put on sale, between 1 euros and 60 euros for the most exceptional products, in a twenty cities.
Initially, there was talk of hosting the event at the Braderie de Lille, on September 14 and 15, with a dedicated stand. But the deadlines were too short according to Yannick Leborgne, the director of the Lille Olympic site, to join the largest garage sale in Europe (postponed due to… the Olympics). It was ultimately the town of Saint-Denis, in the Paris suburbs, which got the ball rolling on September 14.
The mess
The MEL offered to make the Villeneuve-d’Ascq Stadium available on Saturday October 5. But the Paris 2024 committee and the MEL decided to cancel the event by “mutual agreement” a few days ago.
“For reasons beyond our control, the Paris 2024 Braderie planned for 5/10 at the Stadium will ultimately not be able to take place,” Raphaël Leclerc, the regional mobilization manager for Paris 2024, wrote on Thursday on X.
According to information from The Voice of the Northit went without saying for Paris 2024 that the metropolis would make staff available to welcome the public to the Stadium. For the MEL, it was up to the committee to ensure the security of the event. How did we get to this mess?
Reached by telephone, Éric Skyronka, vice-president in charge of sports, confides that “ the decision was not taken lightly. » No question for the MEL, which invested 15 million euros to host the Olympic Games, to sell off the security of the event. The elected official evokes a “ relative improvisation » from the organizers. End of the Olympic idyll? “ Welcoming 2,000 or 10,000 people to the Stadium cannot be improvised. » The MEL was in favor of pre-registrations to best manage the crowd. “ We looked for alternatives to reschedule the sale so that it could be held in the best welcoming conditions for the public. This could not be done, for reasons beyond our control. » assures Paris 2024.
How do we do it elsewhere?
First come, first served. The race for cult Olympic objects is obviously a hit. After Saint-Denis, the Olympic clearance sale attracted 1,600 people to Mulhouse according to The Dispatch. A week later, in Rouen, the most motivated fans arrived at night. Same scenario or almost in Élancourt according to Republican Echo. More than 5,000 people and hours of waiting at the Pantin location.
No notable excesses, relatively flexible organizations and a good-natured atmosphere. Even if faced with the popularity of this sale, the organizers decided to limit it to five items per person to avoid bidding wars on the Internet.
This Sunday, fans are expected in Compiègne, the only city in Hauts-de-France to host the Olympics clearance sale. The event takes place at the Paul Petitpoisson stadium as part of a sports day dedicated to Pink October.
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