‘Tous Terrains Le Club’ Spotlights Wheelchair Basketball in Northern France

By Daniel Richardson, Editor-in-Chief, Archysport

SAINGHIN-EN-MÉLANTOIS, France — On Monday, April 27, 2026, the monthly sports showcase Tous Terrains Le Club turned its lens to wheelchair basketball, offering viewers a rare glimpse into the discipline’s grassroots momentum in the Hauts-de-France region. The 30-minute episode, broadcast on local channel Télésambre, aired immediately after the evening newscast and featured the Sainghin-en-Mélantois Handibasket Club (JCS), a community-driven team that has become a regional hub for adaptive athletics.

The Episode: A Community in Motion

The April 27 installment of Tous Terrains Le Club marked the second consecutive year the program dedicated an episode to adaptive sports, following a 2025 segment on judo that drew praise from regional sports councils. According to Télésambre’s official program page, the handibasket focus aimed to “highlight the often-invisible work of clubs, coaches, and volunteers who make inclusive sport possible.”

The episode opened with a montage of JCS players training at the Complexe Sportif Jean Jaurès in Sainghin-en-Mélantois, a municipal facility that has hosted the club since its founding in 2018. Archysport reviewed the broadcast and confirmed the following key segments:

• A sit-down interview with Thomas Leroy, JCS head coach and a former wheelchair basketball player for the French national development team. Leroy, who has led the club since 2020, discussed the sport’s physical demands and its role in fostering social inclusion. “Wheelchair basketball isn’t just about competition,” Leroy said on camera. “It’s about proving that disability doesn’t define ability.”
• On-court footage of a JCS training session, including drills designed to improve chair control and passing accuracy. The segment emphasized the sport’s unique blend of speed, strategy, and teamwork, with players navigating the court in specialized sports wheelchairs.
• A profile of Élodie Moreau, a 24-year-old JCS player and recent graduate of the University of Lille. Moreau, who competes in the club’s mixed-gender league, spoke about her journey from recreational play to competitive wheelchair basketball. “I started playing for fun, but now I train four times a week,” Moreau told the program. “The club gave me confidence I didn’t know I had.”
• A behind-the-scenes look at the club’s volunteer network, which includes parents, local students, and former athletes who assist with logistics, fundraising, and event organization. The segment highlighted the club’s reliance on community support, noting that JCS operates with an annual budget of approximately €45,000, 60% of which comes from municipal grants and private donations.

Why Wheelchair Basketball? The Regional Context

Wheelchair basketball has grown steadily in northern France over the past decade, driven by increased accessibility to adaptive sports programs and a push from regional governing bodies to expand para-athletics. The French Federation of Adapted and Wheelchair Basketball (FFHBA), the sport’s national governing body, reported in its 2025 annual report that the Hauts-de-France region accounted for 18% of France’s registered wheelchair basketball players, second only to Île-de-France (22%).

JCS, which competes in the National Division 3 of the French wheelchair basketball league, has emerged as a feeder program for higher-level competition. The club’s roster includes 12 active players, ranging in age from 16 to 45, with disabilities including spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and limb amputations. According to FFHBA records, JCS has produced three players who have gone on to represent France at the international level, including Lucas Dubois, a 22-year-old guard who debuted for the French national team in 2024.

The episode also addressed the financial and logistical challenges facing adaptive sports clubs. Leroy noted that the cost of a single sports wheelchair—ranging from €2,500 to €5,000—can be prohibitive for many athletes. JCS has partnered with local businesses and the Métropole Européenne de Lille to provide subsidized equipment and transportation for players, but funding remains a persistent hurdle. “We’re always looking for sponsors,” Leroy said. “Every euro helps us keep the doors open.”

The Sport’s Growth and What’s Next for JCS

The Tous Terrains Le Club segment comes at a pivotal time for wheelchair basketball in France. The sport is set to make its debut at the 2026 European Para Championships in Rotterdam, a multi-sport event that will serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. France’s national team, currently ranked 8th in the world by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), will rely on regional clubs like JCS to develop the next generation of talent.

For JCS, the immediate focus is on its upcoming season in National Division 3. The club’s first match is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, against the Lille Métropole Handibasket at the Complexe Sportif Jean Jaurès. Kickoff is set for 2:00 PM local time (12:00 PM UTC), with admission free to the public. Leroy told Archysport in a follow-up interview that the team is targeting a top-three finish in the division this season, which would secure promotion to National Division 2.

“We’ve got a young team with a lot of potential,” Leroy said. “If we can stay healthy and keep improving, we’ll be in the mix.”

How to Get Involved

JCS is actively recruiting recent players, volunteers, and sponsors. The club’s weekly training sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Complexe Sportif Jean Jaurès. No prior experience is required, and the club provides loaner wheelchairs for newcomers. Interested individuals can contact the club via its official website or through its social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

Key Takeaways

• Community Impact: JCS has become a regional leader in adaptive sports, with 12 active players and a growing volunteer network.
• Financial Challenges: The club operates on an annual budget of €45,000, with 60% coming from grants and donations. Equipment costs remain a barrier for many athletes.
• Competitive Ambitions: JCS aims to finish in the top three of National Division 3 this season, which would secure promotion to Division 2.
• National Context: The Hauts-de-France region accounts for 18% of France’s registered wheelchair basketball players, making it a key hub for the sport.
• Next Steps: JCS’s first match of the season is on May 16 against Lille Métropole Handibasket, with free admission for spectators.

What’s Next

Archysport will provide live coverage of JCS’s season opener on May 16, including post-match analysis and player interviews. For fans looking to follow the team’s progress, the club’s official website and social media channels will offer regular updates on results, upcoming fixtures, and community events.

Have you attended a wheelchair basketball game? Share your experiences in the comments below or tag us on social media with #Archysport.