Almost three years have passed since the purchase, in February 2018, of the Grand Dôme de Villebon-sur-Yvette (Essonne) by the French Federation of Judo and Associated Disciplines (FFJDA). If some had serious hopes of seeing this 8,000 square meter structure and its surroundings finally functioning at full capacity, they will be disappointed and will still have to wait. The ambitious renovation and extension project then presented by the authorities of the time, with a view to boosting a Grand Dome which has never been able to find its cruising speed in terms of operation, is… on the mat.
Acoustic work has indeed been carried out to attract the interest of producers of concerts and other shows, but that is all the commotion announced for this structure with 6,400 seats. The same goes outside these high walls, where the re-athletic medico-sports center, the training center and the sports-health offer have never emerged. It is a real pole of sports, leisure and fitness activities that the defenders of this project then put forward, with the ambition to breathe new life into the third largest indoor room in Ile-de-France. -France, built for the 2nd Games of La Francophonie in 1994.
“It’s a file that is starting from scratch”
The French Judo Federation, recently chaired by Stéphane Nomis, is now completely reshuffling the cards. One thing is certain: the great upheaval at 33 million euros, highlighted during the acquisition of the premises, is ancient history.
“It is a file which starts again from zero, without any precipitation”, indicates David Inquel, the new vice-president of the executive committee of the FFJDA in charge of the communication and the partnerships. “When we look at things in a very lucid way, we see that the federation today does not have the necessary means to carry out this project,” points out this 4th dan judoka.
The Grand Dome, a sleepy “temple of judo” that has rarely attracted crowds in recent years, now costs more than it earns. And to say that the economic situation is not at all favorable to large-scale financial movements is a no-brainer. As in many other sports federations, the Covid-19 pandemic has damaged the FFJDA. “We have 36% fewer licenses,” says David Inquel. And the year ahead will also be extremely difficult. “
The time has therefore not yet come for investments, but for a new reflection on the future of the Grand Dôme. A delay that Jean-Luc Rougé understands perfectly: “It was a completely credible project, but given the economic situation, I would also have made the decision to review it or to postpone the deadlines”, declares the secretary general of the Federation. international judo.
Priority to judo rather than the Rolling Stones
Several competitions – judo, but not only, other federations having their habits there – are scheduled at the Grand Dôme in the coming months. But there is still some vagueness as to what will happen in terms of works in this area of the Courtabœuf business park. David Inquel specifies all the same that the essence of the new project should always revolve around the sport and the judo. “Rather than trying to bring in the Rolling Stones, we’re going to focus on what we can do,” he smiles.
And the French Judo Federation will not be alone in this process. “We work with large developers and the town hall of Villebon-sur-Yvette supports us with a lot of kindness”, appreciates David Inquel. “Whatever the project, they know that we will be there to help them, in particular to find the right partners”, specifies Dominique Fontenaille, the mayor (DVD) of this city of 10,500 inhabitants.
The mayor of Villebon for “an offer adapted to the 23,000 employees of the Courtabœuf business park”
The chosen one is not surprised by this reduction of sails initiated by the new FFJDA team. “We could see that there was not much organized at the Grand Dome”, admits the one who does not hesitate to give his idea on what could become of the structure and its surroundings. “I think that we cannot imagine a project without taking into account the position of the Grand Dome within the Courtabœuf business park, he judges. Sports and leisure areas are not sufficient here. It would be necessary to develop an offer adapted to the 23,000 employees of the park. “
Newsletter The essentials of 91
A tour of the news of Essonne and Île-de-France
President (LR) of the departmental council of Essonne, François Durovray was waiting for only one thing: that what he considers a “beautiful territorial project” is finally set in motion. But he is understanding. “I am aware that for the judo federation, as for other sports federations, the situation is complicated, that it invites to limit expenses and therefore to re-examine this project, but also to review its economic model, declares he. Whatever its final decision, the department will be alongside the federation. »Appropriations have been entered in this direction in the 2021 budget of the Essonne departmental council.
