This volleyball club from the Caen metropolitan area has recovered the field for the Paris Olympic Games

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It is on this surface that Earvin Ngapeth’s French team became double reigning Olympic champion on August 10, 2024. Today it is the one on which the girls of Envol Carpion, the Carpiquet team, play in the Caen area (Calvados). An extraordinary chance for this club which plays in Nationale 2. Benjamin Meuriot, the coach of the first team, is relieved that this covering is finally installed.

It’s mostly a relief for now. The work was delayed for various reasons. The lines were painted on Friday so we could play on them on Sunday.

A coating with a lifespan of 25 years

A floor like this is used in various international competitions for two years before being retired. However, he has an estimated lifespan of 25 years! The call for resale was launched even before the start of the Olympic Games.

“It’s a floor that’s almost like new,” explains Benjamin Meuriot. When the call was launched, the Carpiquet town hall jumped on it and we got the answer around April. » For the first time, Envol Carpion therefore has a specific terrain, totally dedicated to the practice of volleyball. Other work is to come in the room on the insulation and the stands.

It is a specialized floor for volleyball. The supports are different, the noises too. Ball bounces are quieter.

“The Paris 2024 pitch in Carpiquet is huge! »

The players learned the news during their summer preparation, when the covering was just being installed. Little clues made them understand. “One day, we returned to our room which was under construction,” says Captain Charlotte Fouques. We saw some marks from Paris 2024 and the Olympic rings and we immediately understood. The Olympic Games grounds in Carpiquet are huge! » The marks in question are those left by visual identity stickers of the Parisian Olympiad which were of course removed before installation in Carpiquet. On a sporting level, this changes several things for the players.

I don’t slip with my shoes anymore (laughs). The floor is like new. Visually also the floor is lighter, it is brighter in the room. And above all, we only have volleyball lines.

On this new pitch, the Carpionnes won at the opening of Nationale 2 against Rennes (3-0) on Sunday September 29.

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