In this new year, Nice Premiรจre will regularly offer a perspective on a sector of activity in the city of Nice, starting with the world of sports for this series of interviews.
Indeed, sports in Nice have experienced a golden age, but few clubs have won titles in the last ten years, and the number of major competitions has gradually dwindled with the disappearance of the Nikaรฏa Athletics Meeting and the Tennis Open. Certainly, the Triathlon and Paris-Nice remain staples of Niรงoise sports life, but is that enough for France’s fifth-largest city?
To address these questions, our first guest is Sรฉbastien Bonfils, President of the Young Niรงois League, who will give us his perspective as a young student on the sports landscape of the city of Nice.
Interview with Sรฉbastien Bonfils
President of the Young Niรงois League
What is your analysis of Niรงois sports and sports in Nice?
Even though more efforts are needed, this is not the area where the most needs to be done. The work during the Mรฉdecin years has borne fruit, and in terms of infrastructure, Nice remains well-positioned. At the high level, Nice generally achieves good results even if we hear less about certain sports like ice hockey, which remains a fascinating sport to watch!
However, the main task lies in the resources that local authorities can provide for the development of neighborhood clubs, whether they are football, tennis, or other sports. There will always be room to do more.
Now we are told about the creation of the stadium and the choice of its model, which was chosen because it is the least expensive for the City. But what does the city truly think? The city is the people of Nice, yet they have never wanted this new stadium, as shown by the large mobilization of the population against this project.
Do you have any ideas for improving the management of municipal sports?
Returning to the stadium, let’s stop being negative now that it has been launched, and support the project so that it is realized with the fewest problems. However, there remains the issue of its financing, which will further burden the city’s expenses, which are already going to skyrocket the day we learn the total cost of the tramway.
The city’s debt is likely to increase, and on behalf of the Young Niรงois League, I am concerned about the fate of the youth of this city who will eventually have to repay the debts incurred today by the city hall. On the side of subsidies to sports associations, what I hear is not overly negative.
The sports deputy is doing his job, and I hope we will have the opportunity to meet him very soon since the League has decided to address the issue of sports in Nice in the near future. As for major events, it’s a pity that the City lost Nikaรฏa, for example, which contributed to our city’s sporting renown.
What name would you give to the new football stadium in the Var plain?
I voted for Catherine Sรฉgurane in your survey. After all, a woman’s name for a supposedly male-dominated field would surely be a harmonious choice?
Your wishes for the new year in local sports?
Titles for Niรงois clubs, success, a population 100% behind its athletes, and all this in a spirit of fair play, respect for opponents because violence still remains a scourge that threatens sports.
What clubs or athletes do you follow in Nice?
The Nice ice hockey club, which I try to visit as often as possible at the Jean Bouin ice rink and which still fascinates me with its agility! Otherwise, there’s always OGC Nice whose results I closely follow, hoping that everyone will go to the stadium next January for the reception of Bordeaux for the cup match, a club which generally does not do well for us hence the need for the team to feel unwavering support from the fans!
I also keep an eye on the results of the Cavigal Basket since a friend played in this club a few years ago. And at the neighborhood level, I follow the results of USONAC, a football club where my family is highly committed.
Do you yourself practice a sport or a sports activity?
I practiced football and swimming for a few years, but I have only continued with tennis. I have been playing for 13 years, and even though I stopped tournaments due to lack of time, I still play for my pleasure at GSEM next to the Stade de la Lauvette.
Franck Viano
