THE PREPARATION CENTRE FOR THE 2024 GAMES: ANTIBES JUAN-LES-PINS

For many decades, Antibes Juan-les-Pins has been considered as one of the most sporting towns in France, with over 18,400 registered members of a sports association listed in 2019, i.e. over 22% of the population. Lead by 63 top flight professional athletes from Antibes clubs and relayed by the 162 clubs or associations, Antibes Juan-les-Pins offers its inhabitants a very wide choice of disciplines (134) within public sports facilities that cover over 200,000 m².

Antibes Juan-les-Pins also boasts many sports-related infrastructures, such as the Centre Régional d’Education Physique et Sportive (CREPS PACA d’Antibes = PACA Regional Sports and Physiotherapy Centre in Antibes) or the Centre for Sports Medicine.

Azurarena

The Azurarena in Antibes, a superb spots complex opened in 2013 is today one of the wonderful arenas in France where the Antibes Sharks progressed in the French Pro B basketball championship.

Nicknamed the “cauldron” and located at the edge of the Sophia-Antipolis Technology Park, this sports complex is one of the first in France to have obtained HQE (High Environmental Quality) certification and the BBC (Low Consumption Building) label.

This complex is located just 20 minutes from the Nice Côte d’Azur airport.

Approved at international level for basketball or handball matches, the Azurarena has already hosted the French men’s and women’s basketball teams, the French handball team and a bout with boxer Tony Yoka, the 2016 Olympic champion.

Furthermore, this arena has twice hosted the French Wheelchair Basketball Championship Final.

The Antibes Azurarena may, in its largest configuration thanks to telescopic stands and a removable floor, hold up to 5,000 spectators. The central stage measures 44 m by 34 m, sized to host international competitions.

What’s more, the Azurarena houses a 1,000 m² gym dedicated to acrobatic gymnastics and trampolining with exceptional equipment: a Canadian pit, eight trampolines and a set of pulleys in the ceiling for working on routines.

Antibes Juan-les-Pins is also the only town in France to host two French centres in these disciplines.

The Azurarena complies with disabled-access standards.

SHOOTING RANGE

Located in the Trois Moulins zone at the edge of the Sophia-Antipolis Technology Park and 20 minutes from Nice Côte d’Azur airport, the Antibes shooting range allows for practising multiple disciplines in the shooting field, with both pistols and rifles. It is also approved to host national and international competitions.

The complex comprises several shooting ranges at 10 m, 25 m and 50 m, with electronic targets on the 10 m and 50 m and pivoting targets on the 25 m, in order to practice Olympic speeds.

The Antibes shooting range is also home to the Antibes Shooting Club, of which Alexis Raynaud, bronze medallist in the 50 m rifle three positions at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and Jean Quiquampoix, Olympic silver medallist at Rio in 2016 and Olympic champion at Beijing in 2020 in the 25 m rapid fire pistol, are both members.

The shooting range complies with disabled-access standards.

SAILING CENTRE

Located in an idyllic setting at the edge of Cap d’Antibes, with an unimpeded view over the Mediterranean, the Ponteil sailing centre is the perfect place to sail. The site is located right beside the water’s edge and its 3,000 m² area allows for easily storing the craft. It hosts the Voiles d’Antibes European event for fans of water-based sports and yachting.

Benefiting from an exceptional location, the Antibes centre allows for training for the Olympics under real conditions, since this centre is located two hours’ away from the Marseilles site chosen for the sailing events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Furthermore, the nautical centre, inaugurated in 2019, is home to the Société des Régates d’Antibes, the biggest sailing club in France.

The entire centre complies with disabled-access standards.

BROCHARD GYMNASIUM

The Brochard Gymnasium in Antibes is one of the top locations for gymnastics in France. In particular, it is home to the Pôle Espoire de Gymnastique artistique masculine [Boy’s Artistic Gymnastics Academy] and served as the Olympic preparation centre for the French team and several foreign teams.

This centre has seen many Olympic medallists pass through, such as Benjamin Varonian, silver medallist in the horizontal bar in Sydney in 2000, and Hamilton Sabot, the bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This is the gymnasium where Loris Frasca, selected for the 2020 Beijing Olympics, and the man from Antibes, Samir Aït-Saïd, selected for both the Olympics and as the flag bearer for the French delegation at the last Olympic Games in Beijing. The Brochard Gymnasium has almost 900 m² of equipment for training under optimum conditions. It also serves as a training centre for the OAJLP Gymnastics club, the club with the most titles in France across all sports, with 30 French team championship titles to its name.

HOCKEY AT LA FONTONNE

The grass hockey stadium in Antibes and its latest generation pitch, inaugurated in 2018, is one of the best in France. Located a few metres from the sea, the stadium offers a magnificent setting for the teams that come to train here.

The pitch is made of high-quality synthetic turf and benefits from full lighting and an innovative automatic watering system. The entire centre complies with disabled-access standards. The stadium is located 20 minutes from Nice Côte d’Azur international airport.

Since its renovation, the complex has played host to the French men’s and women’s teams on several occasions, as well as to foreign teams, such as Wales for group stages or friendlies. Throughout the year, the stadium is home to the AS Fontonne club, the senior team of which has progressed to national level. This season, the men’s team progressed in the Nationale 2 championship and the women’s team fought for the Nationale 1 championship.

JEAN BUNOZ NAUTICAL STADIUM

Currently being modernized, the Jean-Bunoz nautical stadium is called on to become one of the best nautical stadiums in France. Located just a few minutes’ walk from the SNCF railway station and 15 minutes by car from the A78 motorway, the complex also offers a magnificent sea view.
The complex boasts a 25 m pool, two 50 m Olympic-size pools that are heated all year round, a weights room and a recovery area comprising a sauna, hammam and cold bath, not to mention meeting rooms. These facilities are used all year round by the Cercle des Nageurs d’Antibes club, the Antibes Triathlon club and the Spondyle Club, a fin swimming club.
This swimming pool has welcomed numerous champions, such as Alain Bernard, the 2008 Olympic champion in the 100 m freestyle. It is currently the chosen training centre of Florent Manaudou, four-time Olympic medallist, including one in the 50 m freestyle in 2012, for his preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The entire centre complies with disabled-access standards.

ANTIBES TENNIS CLUB

In all, there are 17 courts available all year round for tennis enthusiasts at the Antibes Tennis Club.

Located at 330 Avenue Jules Grec, the equipment comprises 8 clay courts, 8 hard courts and 1 paddle tennis court.

The clay courts are all high quality. This is an advantage with regard to the 2024 Olympics, which will be played on this surface.

The facilities are close to the town centre and have a large capacity. They benefit from a central location. They’re located just a few minutes away from the SNCF railway station and 10-15 minutes by car from the motorway.

This space also benefits from a restaurant with a wide and pleasant terrace, open at lunchtime from Tuesday to Sunday.

The facilities also boast a clubhouse and bar.

The entire centre complies with disabled-access standards.