• From March 21 to 27, the World Figure Skating Championships will take place in Montpellier, ten years after the last edition organized in France, in 2012, in Nice.

  • If the city was chosen, it is because of its accessibility in terms of transport, "its capacity to organize an event successfully", but also because of the interest, for the international federation, to discover a new one. region.

  • For the territory, it is a tremendous spotlight, in terms of image, but also a source of economic benefits, rejoice the elected officials.

After a 2021 edition behind closed doors, in Stockholm (Sweden), the World Figure Skating Championships should be reunited with their fans this winter, if the Covid-19 epidemic allows it. From March 21 to 27, the Worlds will set up in Montpellier (Hérault), ten years after the last edition organized in France, in 2012, in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes). But how did the Hérault capital, where the ice tends to melt, manage to win the prestigious competition?

"It's a decision that was taken a few years ago, at the time, it was my predecessor, Didier Gailhaguet, who had started the process," says Nathalie Péchalat, president of the French Sports Federation. of ice (FFSG).

And if the International Federation had "validated the city of Montpellier", continues the former champion, it is in particular because of its accessibility in terms of transport, and "its capacity to organize an event successfully".

In Montpellier, it is at the Sud de France Arena, one of the largest venues in France, that the ice rink which will host the competitions will be installed.

The Végapolis ice rink, at Odysseum, is also part of the system: it will host the training sessions of the athletes.

"Discover a new territory"

The interest, also, for the international federation, is "to discover a new territory". "The last World Championships in France took place in Nice in 2002 and 2012," says Nathalie Péchalat. Discovering a whole new region is always interesting for the international federation, which seeks to develop, like us, these sports, both in terms of countries and regions. "

For the capital of Hérault, it is a tremendous spotlight, rejoice the elected officials. “The impact in terms of image will be exceptional, welcomes Michaël Delafosse (PS), the mayor and president of the metropolis of Montpellier. There will be journalists from all over the world, they will be very interested in the World Championships, that's normal, but they will also talk a lot about the city. It is the name of Montpellier, and that of Occitanie, which will be heard. "

From an economic point of view, too, this is the jackpot.

"The estimates we made on the economic impact on eastern Occitania are 30 million euros," notes Carole Delga (PS), the president of the region.

On a budget of some 6 million euros, the competition has also received a boost of 1.8 million euros, in equal parts, from the metropolis of Montpellier and the Occitanie region.

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  • Languedoc-Roussillon

  • Skating

  • Montpellier

  • Sport

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