Sport et développement territorial en Guyane. Une approche par la théorie de la base

Sport can be a very profitable investment from both an economic and social point of view, and this profitability is all the higher in disadvantaged territories where sport is one of the few options for generating economic development and social inclusion at lower cost. We have already encountered this case in rural areas lagging behind with the establishment of nature sports centres, or in dangerous metropolitan areas with the creation of adapted sports clubs. This is also the case in French Guyana. This region is going to have to face several major challenges in the coming years: a galloping demography; considerable territorial disparities; a multicultural society in search of identity; a profoundly weak economic development. This article shows that sport can contribute to meeting such challenges provided that certain constraints are removed. In particular, sports policy in French Guyana should be designed in synergy with other public policies (education, health, transport, social policy, urban policy, etc.). It is necessary to integrate the sports project into an overall territorial project. The first part examines the potential of sport to be a lever for territorial development. From a theoretical point of view, we return to the base theory to justify such a potential. The second part describes the different aspects of the underdevelopment of French Guyana. Our diagnosis reveal strong territorial inequalities, both economic, social and sporting. In a third part, we report on the analyses and conclusions drawn from our field mission.