PROJECT DATE

MARINA OLYMPIQUE

In 2024, Marseille's harbor will be the scene of the Olympic Games' sailing events.he Marseilles harbor will be the scene of the Olympic sailing events.

The creation of an Olympic Marina, including the renovation of the Roucas Blanc water sports stadium (built in the late 70s) and the development of the northern part of the Prado seaside park. This is the cornerstone of the Olympic Games project in Marseille, to accommodate athletes and spectators alike.

The Roucas-Blanc basin has been home to nautical activities since the 19th century, and the current nautical base was developed in the late 1970s, when the Prado seaside park was created. It will be the departure point for boats during the 2024 Olympic Games.

More than 7,000 m² of buildings have now been completed. 17,000 m² of outdoor space and 6 hectares of pool area have been redeveloped.
This demanding facility will also be environmentally friendly.

The City of Marseille - along with its partners the French State, Paris 2024, the Southern Region, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department and the Aix-Marseille Metropolis - wanted to provide the people of Marseille with an excellent nautical facility, both in sporting and environmental terms.

Biodiversity actions undertaken as part of the Roucas Blanc water sports stadium renovation project include the following measures:

Analysis and preservation of initial states

• Assessment of initial biodiversity status: A complete analysis of the initial status of the soil, flora, fauna and pollution was carried out prior to any intervention. This helped to guide future site preservation and management measures.

Plant Heritage Development

• Management of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAES): Specific measures have been put in place to eradicate species such as Pampas grass and Provence cane. These include manual uprooting, land clearing, sieving and monitoring of new growth.
• Vegetation and buildings: The project includes the installation of green roofs and the planting of hedges, using mainly local species to preserve the ecological balance.

Supporting local wildlife

• Integration of wildlife-friendly features: The infrastructure is designed to integrate wildlife-friendly features such as bird nesting boxes and insect shelters, to diversify the available habitats.
• Elimination of the Mirror Effect and sealing of Cavity Traps**: Measures have been taken to avoid death traps for animals, such as the use of non-reflective glazing and the sealing of potential cavities.

Reducing Environmental Impacts

• Reducing light and noise pollution: Measures have been taken to minimize light and noise pollution, in line with environmental standards. This includes the use of direct lighting, limited to necessary areas, and the management of noise sources to avoid disturbing local wildlife.
• Sustainable green waste management: Green waste is managed in a sustainable way, with some of the material from tree felling retained to be reintegrated into the landscape in the form of hedges and copses.

Awareness and Training

Raising awareness of Biodiversity Issues: Awareness-raising modules were organized for all players involved in the project, to ensure a common understanding and commitment to biodiversity conservation.

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