Paris 2024: from the riots to the Paralympic Games, the discreet rebirth of Clichy-sous-Bois
By Writing Ile de France
Published on
“But how do they move their bike forward without pedaling? » On the sidewalk of the Maurice Audin alley in Clichy in the woods, Mokhtar scratches his head without finding the solution. Obviously, the organization of para-cycling events of the Paralympic Games in his city leaves him speechless. In this town of Seine-Saint-Denis, the news went almost unnoticed. We feel far from the next Games of Paris 2024. But this novelty marks a symbolic pawn in the evolution of the town of 30,000 inhabitants.
Clichy-sous-Bois, a hill to spice up the para-cycling route
“Clichy is not a cycling town”, we explain at the town hall, where, despite everything, we do not hide our joy following this designation. The announcement was made last June, during a small reorganization of the event sites. The department thus lost the shot, which went from The Courneuve in Châteauroux, but recovered some of the boxing, volleyball, modern pentathlon and para-cycling. For the latter, the entire event will not take place in Clichy-sous-Bois, but the start and finish will take place in town.
Located on a hill, the town has long gentle slopes, enough to spice things up a bit for athletes. At this time, the exact route of the event has not been revealed. Will it pass through the neighboring towns of Gagnyfrom Rainyof Livry-Gargan ? Or will he walk through the lush forest of Bondythat covers the northeast of the city?
The slow reconstruction of the image of the city
Still, this allocation is part of a Renaissance for Clichy-sous-Bois. In the early 2000s, the city was regularly quoted in the miscellaneous pages of national newspapers. Until becoming, in 2005, the epicenter of the most serious urban riots France has known for decades. These will become following the death of Zyed Benna, 17, and Bouna Traoré, 15, killed while taking refuge in an electrical transformer to flee a police check. The case then went around the world. Just like the images of clashes with the CRS and burnt cars at the foot of large blocks of buildings.
Today, Clichy-sous-Bois is a peaceful town. Of course, poverty is still prevalent in the town of around 30,000 people. And poor housing remains a scourge. But many advances in recent years have brought the city out of the shadows. First, there was the arrival of the tram T4, so much hoped for, at the end of 2019. This will facilitate access to Paris for the inhabitants, despite frequent technical incidents. The city will also soon welcome a Grand Paris Express station. Something to open it up a little more.
Clichy and cycling: a budding love affair?
beginning of July, Olivier Klein, mayor since 2011, was appointed Minister of Housing in the government of Élisabeth Borne. A new fall after the attribution of the para-cycling event in 2024. “We are witnessing a conjunction of good news at the moment. It is the fruit ofa long job to restore our image “, rejoices the town hall.
However, this is not the great love between Clichy and cycling. Steep, the city is not ideal for daily trips on two wheels. There are a few groomed trails, especially in the Bondy forest. But that’s about all. “Nevertheless, this is great news, and an opportunity to give more visibility to this sport at the local level. Especially since Clichy is not outdone in terms of sport, ”defended Étienne Garcin, who cited in particular the inauguration in June of a solidarity Dojo, in the heart of the Chêne-Pointu district, by the President of the Republic. Emmanuel Macron in person.
At this stage, the schedule of events is not yet known. This will be the case by the end of 2022, specifies the organizing committee. The Paralympic Games will be held from Wednesday August 28 to Sunday September 8, 2024. There are two years left to find out how paracyclists will pedal: either as able-bodied cyclists or by force of arms.
Maxime Tredan.
This article was written in partnership with the Training and advanced training center for journalists (CFPJ).
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