Just one month after the horrific attack that struck Nice and the Promenade des Anglais, a heartfelt tribute was paid to the 85 victims before the first match of the Gym’s season.
Touching, moving, gripping. Words fall short to describe the pre-match of this Nice-Rennes. Throughout the week, the city and the club continuously called for unity to pay a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the July 14 attack. An instruction was given: come dressed in white, the pure color of remembrance. “It was hard because I am from here” (from Nice, the Moulins district) explained Malang Sarr in the mixed zone. “I knew some people among the victims, and I am proud to pay tribute to them by scoring. It was important to dedicate this goal to them.”
White Everywhere
Upon arriving near the stadium, the people of Nice showed up. White was seen everywhere among young and old alike: away jerseys for some, plain t-shirts for others, or even shirts. A successful first tribute. “I was surprised, I didn’t expect to see a stadium all in white,” explained Jean-Michaël Séri after the match.
Special Jersey
For the occasion, the sponsors of both teams agreed to make room for a heart represented by the names of the 85 victims. The 36 jerseys (18 per team) will be auctioned off soon. In the stands of the stadium, many were demanding the sale of a replica jersey to the public. For now, this option is not being considered. During the warm-up, both clubs, as well as the referees, wore a white t-shirt identical to the match jersey.
Balloons, Names, and Minute of Silence
Ten minutes before kickoff, the tribute reached another level with the broadcast of a special clip under the strains of Nissa la Bella, sung in unison by the Allianz Riviera. The announcer then recited the names of the 85 victims. With each name, a young person from Nice took a place in the center circle holding a white balloon. After a very long minute of silence, the 85 balloons were released into the azure blue sky of Nice. Finally, the players appeared on the pitch in complete silence. A rare and touching moment. For the record, Nice won 1-0 thanks to a goal from a youngster.
“The minute of silence, entering the stadium, it’s heart-wrenching,” recounted Paul Baysse, captain of OGC Nice. “It was full of emotion. We wanted to give our all, to win, to pay the best tribute possible. It was a source of motivation.”
