Interview with Valérie Nicolas, player for ASPTT Nice and mission officer at the city of Nice.
Nice Premium: Valérie, you have the most impressive record in French women’s handball: title of best player, World Champion, Champions League winner, and in June 2008, you decided to take a new direction in your career by signing with ASPTT Nice, a fourth-division club. Why did you make this choice?
Valérie Nicolas: It was a little over a year ago, in January last year, my club in Viborg, Denmark wanted me to sign a new two-year contract. I thought that I still had the opportunity to play sports, offer my skills to a club, and at some point, I wanted to have a life as a woman, start a family in France, and think about what comes next.
NP: What excited you about the project in Nice?
VN: You know, as a high-level athlete, you need to think about your career transition and that’s why it was time for me to come back to France. I listened to the offers from D1 clubs and then to the proposal from the Nice club, through Gilles Vessière, the deputy for sports, who had heard that I was looking for a career change. He suggested I join the city of Nice because the mayor, Mr. Estrosi, was keen on revitalizing sports. Mr. Vessière also wanted me to revitalize the ASPTT Nice club, which is currently in the fourth division but aims to join the elite. In this dual project, I thought it could be nice. I also accepted because I was looking for a quality of life.
NP: Upon your arrival at the club, there was impressive media buzz. Do you think this has brought something to the club?
VN: Indeed, I signed my license last July and there were about forty media at the Palais Sarde. It’s pleasing in a way because it shows there was an attachment to sports in this city. For now, it’s not up to what it could be. I think Nice can be a sports city. It’s important to make people understand that Nice is not just a city for retirees.
NP: You joined the Nice city hall as a mission officer for youth and sports, what exactly is your role?
VN: Initially, I was focused on sports at school starting in September, but it quickly changed when Nice submitted its bid for the 2018 Olympics, and then I was brought here to the Palais Sarde to be part of this mission. One of my main missions is to bring together high-level athletes who support the campaign and who join me in interventions at elementary schools.
NP: You have participated in demonstrations in primary schools, what has this meant for you?
VN: It makes the kids dream, and it’s pleasing. Regarding the Olympics, we explain the symbols to them. Seeing someone who has been to the Olympics, the children are curious and ask questions. The goal is also to explain to children who are 9/10 years old today that in 10 years, if the Games are here, they will be adults and they will be the ones representing France.
NP: You have national and international notoriety, in a city like Nice where handball is not the king, do people recognize you on the street?
VN: Yes, it happens. People come up to me and say, “What you’ve done is great.” You know, the handball players of Nice have played in D1, there is a handball culture here.
NP: You have participated in three Olympics, today you are involved in organizing the 2018 Winter Games in Nice. What are the strengths of Nice’s bid?
VN: Nice has many strengths, especially transportation and the airport, which is the second-largest in France and also serves many countries abroad. The technical file is very good, there are two hubs: the ski hub between Auron, Isola 2000, and Valberg, and the ice hub in Nice. The Olympic Village will be five minutes from the airport, and we have everything needed in terms of accommodation. What I like most is the sea/mountain context. We will use the port and the Bay of Angels for the opening and closing ceremonies.
NP: Do you really believe in Nice’s chances on a national and international level?
VN: We have not lost any points, which is very important. We could have prepared it better by working on it more in advance. Annecy was also good. On an international level, there are Munich and Pyongyang (North Korea), knowing that the Koreans have been “promised” the Olympics twice. Now, we have to wait and see the other bids.
NP: What is the most beautiful moment of your career?
VN: The Champions League in 2006 with Viborg (Denmark). I loved it because it’s a human adventure that lasts a season.
NP: What is the worst moment of your career?
VN: The Athens Olympics because that’s when we should have won a medal. We lost by one goal in the semi-final against the Koreans and lost the bronze medal to the Ukrainians.
