Four national water polo teams are currently preparing for the world championships in ten days in Croatia in Laval. These are the women’s teams of the following countries: France, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand. A friendly tournament is organized between these teams for three days (from Wednesday 8 to Friday 10).
Behind all this, the objective of Laval Agglo and the Saint-Nicolas swimming pool is to welcome a delegation to Mayenne as part of Terre de Jeux ahead of the Paris Olympic Games. Thierry Prat, the director of the Laval swimming pool: “we hope. There are more than 750 sites in competition today on French territory to welcome in the best conditions all these delegations which will prepare for the 2024 Games. So yes, it’s a dream. And we do everything to try to make it happen. We are in advanced contact with two nations, one in swimming, the other in water polo. And that’s why we’re having this tournament this week.“
Beyond the sports facilities that correspond to the specifications, there is everything that is put in place around the reception of the delegations (accommodation, catering, shuttles, etc.). Real assets to make the Laval swimming pool a preparation center for the Games.
A mayenne in the France team
Among the players of the France team, a Mayennaise. Morgane Leroux, 23, was born in Château-Gontier and is licensed to the Lille club, crowned French Pro A champion for the eighth consecutive time. After an absence due to injury, the Mayennaise hopes to be selected for the next world championships.
– Gildas Menguy