The project to repair the floor of the Chaudron room in Boncourt is progressing. A file was submitted on Tuesday to the Confederation in order to obtain subsidies. Last year, citizens validated, through the budget, a credit of 300,000 francs to renovate the floor of this multipurpose room, built in the 80s and which no longer meets expectations. The municipal council imagined installing a traditional synthetic floor for a multi-sport hall. BC Boncourt should therefore have obtained an exemption, as has been the case for around twenty years, to continue to play there in League B. But another variant, consistent with the practice of basketball, is now preferred.
Lionel Maître, mayor of Boncourt, explains that the flooring manufacturer, met at the beginning of the year, is offering a new material: a versatile parquet floor. This floor would allow children to take their physical education classes without risk of injury, local companies to still use this room for their events and BC Boncourt to preserve the health of its players. The president of the club Grégory Franc explains that it would be important to have a working tool consistent with its use, without being a condition for a return to the A league.
With this new possibility, the Municipal Council, supported by Swiss Basketball, studied the necessary modifications in order to approve the Cauldron for the practice of high-level basketball. The pitch, too short, should be moved towards the small sports hall. The stands and basketball hoops should also undergo changes. “These additional costs, today, we are working to obtain subsidies from the Confederation,” explains the mayor, who gives a figure of 150,000 francs.
For use by Swiss Basketball
Swiss Basketball supported the municipality and the BCB in these various initiatives by requesting funds from the Confederation, via projects supported by the NPR, the new regional policy. The national federation hopes to help one of its clubs develop. Valère Bula, the competition manager, emphasizes that if this hall were to be approved, the federation could consider holding training camps there or organizing youth or even senior competitions there. However, playing a national team match there seems unlikely, since the international federation, FIBA, requires a capacity of 3,000 seats.
A hoped-for grant
If the Confederation were not to intervene, the municipality would turn to BC Boncourt and Swiss Basketball to help finance its modifications. Otherwise, the multipurpose parquet project could be abandoned. /ncp
