Indre: what is the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Châteauroux?

References to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games have disappeared in Châteauroux. The posters, the flags, the decorations on the windows: little by little, the city is moving on to something else. The work, barely finished or still in progress, bears witness to the transformation effort initiated before this planetary deadline but which has seen a boost. “It’s really good for the city, it gives it a different image”testifies Fabrice, a resident of downtown Châteauroux for around twenty years. “No one would have believed that Châteauroux would host the Olympic Games. And yet, we have shown that we know how to organize such events, that there is real experience”insists Denis Merigot, deputy mayor in charge of sports.

If there is one emblematic project of these Olympics, it is the rehabilitation of the Saint-Denis chapel. 15 months of work to transform a building abandoned for more than 20 years. The site first welcomed several delegations during the Olympic Games (Australia, Japan and New Zealand) then the Paralympic Games (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, France and Norway). Then, the 25 aparthotel rooms were available to customers from September 9. “We were counting on 70% professionals and 30% individuals such as tourists. In fact, we realize that we have 90% professional customers”indicates Johann Hamard, in charge of managing the establishment.

The footballers from Le Mans, for example, spent the day there to eat and have a snack before facing Berrichonne Football. AS Nancy-Lorraine will even spend a night there. And the Saint-Denis chapel should be fully occupied during the dance course of the Darc festival in August 2025. “The offer did not exist, we provide a solution. It works well, the activity is profitable. We respond to tailor-made offers, our teams are very versatile”welcomes Johann Hamard.

An impact in Châteauroux, almost no effect in the rest of Indre

The accommodation offer works well in Châteauroux. The capital of Indre also does well when it comes to observing the effects of the Olympic Games. The turnover of Castelroussian hoteliers has doubled or even quadrupled according to the MKG firm. 65% of service providers say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the summer tourist season. This is what we learn from a study by the Indre attractiveness agency. Around 30,000 tourists and athletes passed through Châteauroux at that time. “We had the whole world come to Châteauroux: Koreans, Americans, Chinese, Russians… It’s a very interesting experience. It greatly contributed to the visibility and notoriety of the city”estimates Thierry Bluet, the director of the structure. The accommodation offers have generally been upgraded to meet the demanding specifications of the Games organizing committee.

But the rest of Indre cannot say the same. “It is clear that there was no Olympics effect. There were no surges and attendances generally stagnated at the main tourist sites”continues Thierry Bluet. But the director of the Indre attractiveness agency is not giving up and is betting on the future. If foreign tourists came, it was mainly the French who were the most numerous. “And there, we had Basques, Bordeaux, Alsatians and people from Provence. Several expressed their intention to return and that is our mission”adds Thierry Bluet.

Bringing the CNTS to life outside of competitions

For the Châteauroux-Déols National Shooting Center, the Olympic showcase was also exceptional. The site was known and unanimously appreciated by French and foreign athletes. Several major international competitions have already been organized there. But it is an additional step that has been taken. “We showed that we were ready. It’s up to us to remain worthy and live up to all these demands”declares Jean-Pierre Chaulier, president of the Auvergne Sports Shooting League and very often present at the CNTS. In mid-February, the French sports shooting championships will take place at the CNTS before the European championships scheduled for late July and early August.

But the CNTS does not want to stop there. “We must bring this unique equipment to life outside of the competition ranges. We have space, we must take advantage of it”explains Jean-Pierre Chaulier. The French sports shooting federation is thus considering training sessions directly at the CNTS. “We can teach shooting practice. There are already numerous firing points. We need to add another floor to the rocket with classrooms to offer courses and training. For example, there are more in addition to security agents who are armed, we can train them here”indicates Jean-Pierre Chaulier. According to our information, a shooting fair could also be organized on the site. And the first contacts have been made concerning the possible establishment of a solar power plant.

The idea is to keep the site alive and also to diversify the money coming in for the French shooting federation.

A boost for sports associations

Finally, the sporting impact is already visible in the amateur clubs of Châteauroux. “We see more graduates in swimming, judo or even table tennis, in the disciplines where people vibrate”explains Denis Merigot, sports assistant. Associations are therefore already benefiting from the consequences of this event. But above all, the Olympics awakened a collective state of mind and showed that people are ready to get involved, to give their time. “There were a lot of volunteers in Indre who were present at the Olympics. We know that we can count on these people again. It is a real breeding ground for future events and even for clubs which are struggling to attract volunteersconsiders the deputy mayor.