Lyon (AFP)
After taking charge of the Asvel Basketball Club, Tony Parker continues his presence in Lyon with the opening of an academy whose ambition is to guarantee a job, sports or not, to each of its residents.
The painting is still fresh, the last shrubs just planted and the pavement of the outdoor basketball court just laid. Welcome to the Tony Parker Adequat Academy!
Three new buildings house since mid-August 60 internal aged 15 to 20 years not far from the Stade de Gerland in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon.
Fitness room, glowing indoor basketball courts, recreational, educational and restoration areas. Facilities at the service of an idea: combine passion, education and business world with a firm promise of "job at the key".
In parallel with the courses offered --glycée, higher diplomas sanctioned by universities and schools Lyon - the "Academy" wants to allow his students to devote a large part of their time to their passion: e-sports, basketball, tennis or - from 2020-- music.
"We are convinced that thanks to their passion, these young people have acquired mechanisms very clearly demanded in the business world," Xavier Lucas, deputy president of the academy, told AFP. "We want to put at their disposal the tools so that they can define a project of life in connection with their passion".
Because unlike most conventional sports training centers, the academy allows direct access and adapted to higher education and business.
"We will make every effort to become professional sportsmen, but we must be aware that 95% of them will not be, the important thing is that they take advantage of this opportunity to prepare for the future. Tony Parker said on the sidelines of a grand opening.
- 25,000 euros / year -
Year of running requires, the bulk of the workforce comes from the male and female training centers of Asvel, whose "TP" is the president.
The remaining third is composed of private subscribers who can afford the luxury of paying 25,000 to 40,000 euros for an all-inclusive school year, including food and laundry.
"I like it: I like the fact that everything is short distance: apartment, land, school and canteen", describes the 19-year-old Franco-Saudi Moussab, who caresses the dream of becoming a pro basketball player.
Pierre-Antoine, 22, is one of five residents of the e-sport program, which he follows in parallel with management studies.
This "gamer" was attracted by the reputation of the former NBA star but also by the partnership of the academy with the online seller of high-tech equipment LDLC, main sponsor of the Asvel but especially owner of the " Team LDLC ", professional team of esport of very high level.
"If it does not work as a professional, it would interest me to become a manager of an e-sports team," he explains.
- 13 students per class -
For greater efficiency, partnerships have been forged with Adequat, a temporary agency and recruitment agency that will soon have its office on the spot, and Acadomia, a specialist in private lessons that provides high school education.
"We have a maximum of 13 students per class who will enjoy a new way of working in an environment that corresponds to them," says AFP Philippe Coléon, CEO of Acadomia.
Students in open spaces, comfortable and informal, have only 15 to 18 hours of lessons per week, but Mr. Coléon ensures that their time of attention is optimized, especially because of the limited staff.
The project, worth 40 million euros, was set up with Montpellier's Océanis developer, who operates most of the 409 student housing units on the site.
The academy is owned by Tony Parker and two friends: international Nicolas Batum and the deputy chairman of Asvel Gaétan Müller, for an estimated annual operating budget of 1.5 million EUR.
"We can go up to 200, 250 students, we already have a lot to expand in two or three years," said Tony Parker. As often, the young pensioner emphasizes his desire to transmit. Without setting limits.
It has already given itself a new "objective": the forthcoming opening, abroad, of new academies stamped "TP".
© 2019 AFP