A few days ago Thierry Large, director of the Complexe Sportif Gymnique in Arques, France sent out some beautifully shot images of the city's new gym, which was finished in 2010 and christened with a celebration just before it hosted the 2010 Pas-de-Calais International. (Videos of that event here.)
- The 6,000 square meter training center is outfitted with the latest Gymnova equipment (Gymnova will be the supplier in London)
- The center is 90 minutes from London, being about half an hour on the train from Calais, the embarkation point for the underground chunnel between France and Great Britain
I was able to visit Arques and see the new complex late last year. It is sparkling and simply the most beautiful gymnastics venue I've ever seen. From a December article on the piece:
Everything in this building feels brand new and state of the art. A set of Olympic medals from Beijing and stuffed animal Olympic mascots are displayed in the waiting area on the first floor. The airy gym, stocked with Gymnova equipment, is all white walls and blonde wood and the company's signature red and white mats. The building's roof has 1,200 square meters of solar panels and produces more energy than it consumes.
There are rooms named after 2004 Olympic uneven bars champion Emilie Lepennec and Laurent Barbieri, who won silver on vault at the 1985 World Championships. (Before Thomas Bouhail did him one better in Rotterdam two months ago, Barbieri was France's last male gymnast to win a world medal on vault).
Lepennec showed up for the gym's official christening Friday night and fielded questions from well-interntioned general assignment reporters, who asked the Olympic champion well-meaning things like, "what, for you, was the best moment of your career?"
But don't just take my word for it -- check out the photos! They're off to the left, or here.
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