« A former high-level athlete, the mayor of Gravelines, Bertrand Ringot, has always made sporting activities one of the main levers of his municipal action.
The essential
The start of the flagship stage of the 4 Days of Dunkirk will be given from Petit-Fort Philippe this Saturday.
A sporting city par excellence, the city of ramparts relies on a network of associations that is as rich as it is varied.
Bertrand Ringot is full of ideas based on one desire: to encourage the practice of sport for as many people as possible and in good conditions.
Why is your city hosting the 4 Days of Dunkirk again?
I always told the 4 Days team that if they were looking for a stage to complete their journey, the town of Gravelines was a candidate.
Our population loves cycling and we are lucky to have a regional event, I am attached to this sporting heritage.
It’s a great opportunity to show off our region.
A departure from Petit-Fort on Boulevard de l’Est, a passage along the channel, I loved doing this route and the Gravelines-Watten-Cassel circuit.
Gravelines has always cultivated an image as a sporting city. Do you consider this an essential lever for your policy?
Mass sport was closely linked to high-level sport.
We have also promoted the development of women’s sport and sport for all, as well as the development of practices such as rugby, which will soon have a clubhouse at the Descarpentries farm in Petit-Fort-Philippe.
Sport is an important vector.
I was also proposed by the steering committee of the Mayors of France to join the general assembly of the National Sports Agency.
Gravelines has a population approaching 12,000 and over 7,000 members in the town’s various sports associations. How do you explain this?
They do not all live in Gravelines and also come from neighboring towns.
The price of licenses has always been affordable and we have always supported the creation of various associations with numerous, high-quality equipment.
Why do you want to include Gravelines in the wake of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
We are in the dynamics of the Region.
We are going to promote our two major facilities: Sportica and the PAarc.
We want to welcome foreign teams in preparation, targeting six or seven disciplines.
At PAarc, we had New Zealanders for three weeks even though the site wasn’t even finished! We’ll attract them, I’m sure of it.
What is your take on this rather complicated BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque season?
We were disappointed. We have to be honest.
We still had a little hope for the play-offs.
Choices must be made collectively; that is also what a society is all about.
Since 2001, when I installed Hervé Beddeleem and then Christian Devos, the instruction I gave them was to balance the accounts.
This has been the case for 18 years and we have sometimes been in surplus.
The Gravelines municipal council has never had to add money along the way, which, to be perfectly honest, has happened regularly in the past.
I hope that the BCM will obviously bounce back.
There is nothing wrong: the public is present, as are the partners and the communities.
Never forget also that we are one of only three Pro A clubs not to have been relegated since their promotion.
Today, I consider that Christian and Hervé held the fort.
They’re currently facing criticism, but that’s part of the job in a way.
What is the status of the Sportica renovation project?
I have submitted an application to Xavier Bertrand and am awaiting confirmation of the level of assistance he will be able to grant me.
Honestly, moving to Dunkirk was never on the agenda.
Some may have imagined that… but the BCM is Gravelines – Grand-Fort.
The BCM would never have been a resident of a large hall in Dunkirk.
I have often discussed this with Patrice Vergriete, the president of the CUD.
The urban area is fortunate to have several hubs; we must strengthen them and not centralize them, otherwise we will have dormitory towns around Dunkirk.
There should be points of interest spread throughout the city.
We must respect the balance.
It’s normal for Dunkirk to have a large stadium, an ice rink, and beautiful facilities for its handball club, but it’s also normal for Gravelines to have basketball or, for example, for the Dunes de Flandres to be located to the east, or a large sailing base in the future, for example. That would make sense.
Chtriman, foot races, kite-surfing competitions, do you consider sport as an event lever?
For example, 3,000 people from all over France are expected for Chtriman.
For some, they will live in Gravelines for three days with their loved ones.
This is a major economic issue.
We will also have the French elite championships in 2020.
We are bidding to host the European Elite Championships, the second largest rowing event in the world, in 2023 or 2024.
I recently met with the leaders of the international federation, who are impressed by our nautical stadium. »
