The Bertrand-Dauvin sports center gets renovated for Paris 2024 Games

Are you familiar with the Bertrand-Dauvin sports center in the 18th arrondissement? The facility takes its name from a 1920s aviator and gliding champion. This year, it will host athletes from all over the world during the Paris Olympic Games! It will be the training site for the modern pentathlon. This discipline includes fencing, swimming, horse-riding and laser run (a combination of running and pistol shooting). Only equestrian training will not take place on site.

The Games were an opportunity for the City of Paris to undertake a major revamp, as in the case of four other sports venues in the capital, renovated by the City and its partners for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A new swimming pool, covered tennis courts, renovated sports hall, improved accessibility… Take a tour of the facilities.

"Almost everything here has been changed," explains project manager Christian Sanchez as he arrives at the reception desk. "The aim was to promote accessibility, and we have, for example, created a room to accommodate guide dogs for blind people."

As you head towards the pool, blue tiles have been fitted with a textured surface. This "breadcrumb trail" serves as a signpost for visually impaired users and goes through the whole building: the shoe-removal area, the changing rooms and the showers.

In a blue-and-white-tiled room, reduced mobility showers have been integrated into the communal showers. Bars have been added to the walls to enable users to hold on. "We didn't want to single out people with reduced mobility. They can also use an enclosed shower, if they wish" explains Christian Sanchez.

The newly renovated building has two pools, a 25 metre one and a smaller 12.5 metre one. Its contemporary architecture allows sunlight to stream in through huge bay windows.

"These bay windows make it one of the nicest pools in Paris! " smiles Karim Chabane, a former lifeguard and current pool manager who has been working here for twenty years. "This pool gives you a feeling of freedom when you swim. With the renovation, it's not only looks nicer, but is also more accessible. Things like the wider access ladder in the small pool, but also the ramps make everything more accessible."

While he's looking forward to being reunited with regular local swimmers, the pool manager is also proud that the Bertrand-Dauvin sports center will host training during the Paris 2024 Games. "It means a lot to think that athletes will train here in the 18th arrondissement, at Porte de Clignancourt."

Inside the center, two sports halls and the dojo (martial arts hall) have been refurbished. Floors, lighting, stands, accessible changing rooms… A top to bottom renovation has been carried out.

Outside, the athletics track was completely redone in the summer of 2023. The tennis court roof, known as the bubble, was completed almost a year ago.

Reusing material was a priority for the Dauvin site. Many elements of the sports center and swimming pool were reused in the new structure. "In the case of the pool, for example, we kept the lockers in the changing room and only changed the doors. The same goes for the showers: we kept the functional ones," explains Mr. Sanchez.

Recycling also means recovery of construction site waste: 90% of waste (plastic, wood, rubble, etc.) is being re-used.

Not all the changes are visible to users. For example, the pool's technical installations have been modernized, with improved water and air treatment. The heating network has been completely renovated, and more efficient lighting has been installed to reduce energy consumption. The roof's new thermal insolation is the cherry on the cake.

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