Newly elected Guadeloupe Regional President Ary Chalus on Monday will “deliver his final decision” concerning whether the French territory will host the first stage of the Davis Cup tie between France and Canada, according to LE PARISIEN. Guadeloupe was announced as the host of the March 4-6 event in early December. The cost of “hosting the event was originally announced” to be around €1.5M ($1.7M). Since taking office, Chalus estimates the actual costs to be closer to €4M ($4.4M), a number the region cannot cover “without help from France and other partners.” French Sports Minister Patrick Kanner said that the “competition should be held in Guadeloupe.” He added that the “venue should not change only a few months before the competition.” Guadeloupe League Tennis President Christian Forbin said, “I hope the decision will be a positive one. It would be historic for Guadeloupe to host the Davis Cup.” Former Guadeloupe Regional President Victorin Lurel was “astonished” by the possibility his successor may waive hosting the event. In a statement, Lurel said, “The Region’s share of the budget is perfectly within the means of the community. … The €4.5 million number I’ve heard talked about is just fanciful (LE PARISIEN, 12/27).
MARTINIQUE: L’ÉQUIPE reported French territory Martinique is “ready to host the France-Canada Davis Cup tie at Pierre-Aliker Stadium in Fort-de-France if Guadeloupe forfeits the event.” Martinique Tennis League President Germain Soumbo said, “It will work there, but we cannot be in the game unless Guadeloupe says no.” Soumbo believes the “Martinique dossier is much better than Guadeloupe’s.” Soumbo: “There is no comparison between the two facilities. … Pierre-Aliker is much more calibrated to organize international events” (L’ÉQUIPE, 12/26).
