Abbeville, was the time of a weekend, the French capital of water polo. The city hosted for three days at Aqu’ABB, the Coupe de France, a competition which sees the 8 best men’s teams and 4 best women’s teams in France compete. On the sporting level, few surprises, the ultra-favorites have imposed themselves, whether Marseille for the men, or Lille for the women.
But not everything was played out in the pools, because the event was a test for Abbeville, labeled Olympic preparation center for the 2024 Games, and which hopes to welcome several delegations. A test has obviously been passed. Because a first delegation has decided for Abbeville, and not the least since it is the French men’s water polo team.
Several delegations already interested
For the president of the federal water polo commission, Benjamin Mercier, this choice was obvious: “It’s a place where you feel good, it’s equipment that is modern. With a big advantage: it is that we will be 1h30 from the Olympic site. We considered that it was therefore the ideal site“.
And the French shouldn’t be the only ones. According to the mayor of Abbevile Pascal Demarthe, other delegations are on the spot: “We have hits, so today we can’t yet say, say exactly… But we’re in the Olympic catalog, and so we’ve already had fairly positive feedback from some nations who may be thinking of coming to a rear base here in Abbeville“.
The quality of infrastructure highlighted
It must be said that Abbeville has two very big advantages. On the one hand, the relative proximity to Paris, and on the other hand the quality of its equipment within the Aqu’ABB. For community advisor Arnaud Bihet, everything is gathered here to put the athletes in the best conditions: “We are labeled “Olympic Preparation Center”. We have _infrastructure that is still quite exceptional_, with a 50m Olympic pool, another 25m pool which allows athletes to warm up, a modernized weight room. So everything has been put in place to make things go well“.
A pride for the Community of communes of the Baie de Somme, which expects thanks to this significant economic benefits for the catering and hotel industry of the territory.