It is now the turn of Philippe Manassero, former international Basketball referee and Vice President of Cavigal Nice Basket Ball, to “bounce back” on Nice’s sports scene.
Nice Première: What is your analysis of the sports scene in Nice and sports in general in Nice?
Philippe Manassero: My analysis is simple. In Nice, everything is quite difficult to set up. Firstly, the public hardly follows its professional teams, from football to women’s basketball, through to volleyball and water polo.
It all boils down to resembling the audience of a small town. Admittedly, the venues are either too small or obsolete due to the age of the facilities.
The financial support from the city seems adequate to me but it could, perhaps, encourage private decision-makers to invest more in our city’s teams.
NP: Do you have any ideas on how to improve the management of municipal sports?
PM: Like the big football stadium, we need to build a sports palace for 5,000 to 8,000 people and an arena for 2,500 seats.
A bit less money to culture and a bit more to sports, no more no less.
NP: What name would you give to the big football stadium in the Plaine du Var?
PM: Simply, St Isidore Stadium.
NP: Your wishes for the new year concerning local sports?
PM: To be able to live better with more money, which is crucial, and more people in the venues to support the Nice clubs.
NP: Which clubs or athletes do you follow in Nice?
The Cavigal Nice women’s basketball and OGC Nice.
NP: Do you practice any sports or sporting activities yourself?
Basketball
NP: Your best sports moment this year?
PM: Loïc Leferme’s no-limits free-diving record
