At the entrance to the Roland-Garros stadium, nothing hints at the scenes of chaos that poison the capital a few hundred meters away. It’s a normal day for the temple of tennis. Well almost. Three weeks after the end of the tournament and the triumph of Novak Djokovic; two weeks after the goodbye to basketball and French sport on Victor Wembanyama’s center, Roland-Garros is still transformed into a basketball court.
More specifically the Simonne-Mathieu court, the latest of the courts in the middle of the Auteuil greenhouses. Funny place for a “street basketball” tournament and not just any: the biggest in the world. This is what is written at the entrance. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Quai 54 (live on the L’Équipe channel this Sunday, 5:45 p.m.), born anonymously in 2003, invests for two days, these July 1 and 2, the beaten earth of the Porte d ‘Auteuil. It is his consecration and it is surely what saved him.
Faced with the riots following the death of Nahel, killed by police fire on Tuesday in Nanterre, the meeting came close to cancellation. “When I heard yesterday (Friday) that the government was canceling all major events, sighs Gaël one of the players in his colorful T-shirt, I said to myself: It’s done. Mylène Farmer jumping and not us? Fortunately and for the first time, Quai 54 takes place in a closed and secure place. If it took place like the last times at the Trocadero or at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, we could put an end to our annual happiness. »
The authorities may also have thought that this tournament that the stars of the NBA envy us is not “a large-scale event”, like those which fell by the wayside this weekend. Still, more than 10,000 fans are expected for two days. “Why should it have been canceled, laughs Souleymane crossed in the stands. First, we are not doing anything wrong here, contrary to what is happening elsewhere. And then right next to the Jean-Bouin stadium, there is a US football match and I saw that a running race was also taking place around the Parc des Princes. “The “PSG we run” is indeed blocking the neighborhood.
Doncic, Tatum, Williamson… The NBA stars are there
To fully appreciate Quai 54, you obviously have to love basketball. In 20 years, the tournament has made a place for itself. Michael Jordan himself sponsors it with his Jordan Brand. His logo, the “Jumpman” is present everywhere and it is a privilege he rarely grants. “Every year, continues Sofiane, a fan, we hope he will be there. In 2015, he canceled his visit to the Trocadero at the last moment because of security. It was madness. There, in a secure place like Roland-Garros, I told myself that there was a chance of seeing his skull. »
His arrival has not been announced or planned, even if the organizers are still planning surprises. Why not this one? In place of “Her Majesty”, NBA fans can nevertheless quickly console themselves. Luka Doncic, the Slovenian star of the Dallas Maverick, Zion Williamson, the giant of New Orleans former number 1 in the draft (4 years before Wembanyama), and Jayson Tatum, the star of the Boston Celtics, came this Saturday for judging the dunks contest. They admired basketball players who almost all have the pro level or a very honest national level.
There is “game” as we say here. Because Pier 54 is the self-proclaimed biggest street basketball tournament on the orange planet. “Ah that to play, it plays, slips Gaël. Me, I play at the regional level, but I have no place on the ground. It’s a pity, by the way. “Just selected in the France team to compete in the next World Cup at the end of August and the beginning of September, Sylvain Francisco and Guerschon Yabusele are on the black, red and green ground. Almost anonymous: this is the principle of street basketball. A star of the game can find himself face to face with the most modest of amateurs and this one can teach him a lesson.
To appreciate, you must first love basketball, but not only. Quai 54 is indeed also a meeting place for urban culture. Rap and co, deep into the sound system! For a sold out event.
“It’s a crazy atmosphere, appreciates Isabella. Me, I don’t care a bit about basketball, but my boyfriend did comedy to get places. I followed him, I do not regret. I listen to music, I’m in a place that is forbidden to me the rest of the time. I take advantage of it. It’s nice. »
2023-07-02 09:14:00
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