Press kit Nice Côte d'Azur - A land of Sport

NICE CÔTE D'AZUR A LAND OF SPORT

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2023 - 2024 : Nice hosts world-class events

A unique playground for top athletes and amateurs alike

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09 16

Sports strategy

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Seaside activities

Mountain activities

Our local champions

Regular sporting events

OTM press contacts

Isabelle Billey-Quéré Press Officer

French market & Institutionnal press 04 92 14 46 15 - presse@nicecotedazurtourisme.com

Fanny Mazza

Press Assistant 04 92 14 46 55 - fanny.mazza@nicecotedazurtourisme.com

Caterina Prochilo

Press coordinator: International press 04 92 14 46 17 - caterina.prochilo@nicecotedazurtourisme.com

Anne Berthelot

Press coordinator: International press 04 92 14 46 42 - anne.berthelot@nicecotedazurtourisme.com

2023 - 2024 : Nice hosts world-class events

The Nice Côte d'Azur area draws its strong sporting identity from its geography and history. From the marinas of the Mediterranean to the ski resorts of the Mercantour National Park, passing through hills and valleys, the destination offers an exceptional playground for sporting activities as well as for the organization of events. For example, in 2023 and 2024, the destination will host the Rugby World Cup, the Hopman Cup, the IronMan World Championship and the Tour de France!

2023 highlights

Rugby World Cup France 2023

With its recognized expertise in hosting major sporting events - such as UEFA, Euro 2016, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the Tour de France - and its election as "best host" at UEFA 2016, Nice is getting ready to host the Rugby World Cup 2023!

From September 16 to 24, 2023, the Côte d'Azur's capital will play host to 4 group matches featuring several of the world's leading rugby nations. England, Wales, Scotland, Italy... the matches promise to be exceptional!

As a venue for major events, the Stade de Nice will be hosting:

Wales – Portugal

Saturday, September 16, 2023

England - Japan

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Italy - Uruguay

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Scotland - Tonga

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Nice is already preparing for the arrival of numerous fans from all over the world. A large number of tickets have already been purchased by British fans, and reservations have already been received from far-flung destinations including Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

A variety of events in and around the Nice stadium are planned to make the most of this World Cup.

Find out more about the Rugby Village program to make the most of this event for two, with friends or family: https://www.explorenicecotedazur. com/en/join-in-the-2023-rugby-worldcup/

Hopman Cup - July 17 to 23

For 5 years, the courts of the Lawn Tennis Club will host the Hopman Cup! For the first time in its history, the mixed team tennis competition will be played in Europe, in Nice. Each round will consist of a men's single, a women's single and a mixed doubles. The first three participating teams have already been announced. They are Spain, represented by Carlos Alcaraz (world No. 2) and Paula Badosa (No. 22), France, represented by Richard Gasquet (No. 43) and Alizé Cornet (No. 66), and Switzerland, represented by Leandro Riedi (No. 128) and Belinda Bencic (No. 9). A total of six teams will take part in the 2023 and 2024 editions, then eight from 2025 onwards. As host country, France will participate every year. Hip hip Hip Hooray!

https://hopmancup.com/

IronMan Men's World ChampionshipSeptember 10

In addition to the IronMan France Nice and IronMan 70.3 competitions, Nice has been chosen to co-host the Ironman 140.6 World Championship (3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42 km run) with Kona (Hawaii), the historic birthplace of triathlon. The race will concern the men's edition and will take place in Nice on September 10, 2023, further positioning the Côte d'Azur city as Europe's No. 1 long-distance triathlon venue. Nice was already the first French city to host an Ironman competition in 2005, and has been hosting an international triathlon since 1982.

www.ironman.com/im-world-championshipnice

The women's World Championships will be held on October 14, 2023, in the Hawaiian city of Kona. In 2024, the men will go to Kona and the women will come to Nice, and the rotation will continue until 2026, with both cities jointly hosting the event. The IronMan World Championships are the benchmark in the world of triathlon, which a triathlete must have done at least once in his or her life.

2024 will be no exception

Arrival of the Tour de France 2024

For the first time in its history, the Tour will finish somewhere other than Paris, due to the proximity of the dates to the Olympic Games. This 111th edition is scheduled to start from the city of Florence, Italy, on June 29 and finish in Nice, France, on July 21, 2024.

Olympic Games 2024

In 2024, France will host the Olympic Games. In Nice six soccer matches will be held at the Stade Allianz Riviera, three of which will be played by the men's teams - including the French team match on July 27, 2024 - and three by the women's teams. These will be qualifying matches for the final phases.

Next in 2025

In 2025, the Gravel World Championships will be held in September.

On Saturday, July 20, 2024, the 20th - and penultimate - stage will set off from Nice on a mountainous route to the Col de la Couillole.

The following day, the final stage of the Tour de France 2024 will not be a traditional sprint on the Champs-Élysées, but an individual "Time Trial" between Monaco and Place Masséna. This will be the first time that the Tour will finish in a time trial since the 1989 victory of American Greg Lemond, who stole victory from Frenchman Laurent Fignon, then wearing the jersey, by a mere eight seconds.By hosting the Finish of the Tour de France 2024, the Nice Côte d'Azur region continues to write its history with cycling. In 2020, the Grande Boucle had already set off from the Côte d'Azur.

The economic and media spin-offs, as well as the enhanced image, are very important. For example:

In 2023: with 2 major events (IronMan and Rugby World Cup), economic spin-offs of 102.5 million euros are expected.

Tour de France 2020, over 3 days: 600 million television viewers, with estimated spin-offs of between 25 and 30 million euros per day.

Women's World Cup 2019: estimated spinoffs of 35 million euros for 6 matches.

Proven expertise

In 2009, France-Portugal Handball, France-Argentina Volleyball and Louis Vuitton Trophy (sailing)

In 2010, the return to Nice of the Open Nice Côte d'Azur tennis tournament (ATP)

In 2011, DecaNation athletics and Extreme Sailing Series

In 2012, World Figure Skating Championships, Nice Spring Tour (equestrian), Extreme Sailing Series

In 2013, the 100th edition of the Tour de France and the 7th "Jeux de la Francophonie".

In 2014, the Allianz Riviera stadium welcomes the French soccer team for a friendly match in preparation for the World Cup

In 2016, Nice hosts 4 Euro soccer matches

In 2019, FIFA Women's World Cup matches to be held in Nice

In 2020, the start of the Tour de France is in Nice

In 2022, the French Alpine Ski Championships move to Isola 2000 and Auron

In 2022, the Allianz Riviera hosts the Rugby Top 14 ½ finals

In 2023, the Trial des Nations - the most prestigious event, bringing together the best specialists in the discipline

Nice Côte d’Azur, a unique playground for top athletes and amateurs alike

Building on these assets, Nice Côte d'Azur has confirmed its determination to make sport one of its key development priorities. Support is given to competition centers and top-level athletes, while the many amateur clubs benefit from the creation of modern facilities. A sports events policy is also in place.

With 200 years of excellence under its belt, Nice Côte d'Azur has entered a new cycle, a new dynamic in which sport plays a key role. Inhabitants and visitors alike have the opportunity to try their hand at the gentle and challenging activities offered by the coast, middle and high country. Hiking, cycling, of course, but not only: water sports such as swimming or diving, nature sports such as climbing, via ferrata..., air sports such as paragliding or parachuting... The most important thing is to move in harmony with the environment and your body.

On the coast, facilities such as the Combes sports complex offer summer swimming pools, tennis courts, a padel court and a fitness area. In the middle and high country, facilities such as the Vesubia Mountain Park offer indoor mountain activities for all ages: climbing wall up to 13 meters, canyoning, fitness and wellness area...

Key figures

Nice

100,000 users in Nice

70,000 members

870 clubs

65 disciplines

355 sports facilities

Nice Côte d'Azur

"Land of Games 2024" label: 22 municipalities

"Active and sporty city" label: 7 municipalities

The National Sports Museum, in the Allianz Riviera stadium, traces the history of sport in France through one of the world's largest collections. Built up over the course of time, it is a veritable heritage treasure due to its richness and the chronological period covered. Its collections, which vary widely in material, size and appearance, date from the 16th century for the earliest pieces, and from the 19th and 20th centuries for the vast majority. The museum currently holds over 45,000 objects and 400,000 documents. The highly dynamic permanent exhibition is divided into 4 areas devoted to: self-challenge, man-to-man challenge, collective challenge and challenge beyond limits. Visitors are invited to test themselves...

From April 6 to September 17, 2023, the Musée du Sport is taking part in the adventure of the 2024 Olympic Games with the "Victoires" exhibition, an unprecedented dialogue between its collections and works from the Musée du Louvre.

The Cité des Sports in Eco-Vallée, located between the Palais Nikaïa to the south and the Stade Allianz Riviera to the north, comprises 90 hectares divided into six poles, which attract top-level sportsmen and women, thereby ensuring the long-term future of numerous clubs by providing them with top-quality facilities for their daily training sessions and competitions. The OGC Nice hub, which houses the Nice soccer club's training center. The amateur soccer hub, with four pitches and a dedicated archery area. The athletics cluster, based around the Charles Erhmann stadium, the aquatic cluster with the Camille Muffat Olympic swimming pool, the team sports cluster and the rugby and American soccer cluster.

Nice Côte d’Azur, a sports strategy

Since 2008, Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolitan Area, has been stepping up the sporting dynamic, with the aim of making Nice, and then the region, once again a key host to sport, both for the organization of major events and for the wellbeing of its residents. This concern is widely shared by metropolitan councillors. Nearly half the municipalities in the area have been awarded the "Terre de Jeux 2024" label, and 7 are already "Ville active & sportive".

Nice Côte d'Azur has forged a solid reputation in this field and is often held up as an example. The aim is twofold: to increase the attractiveness of the region via a high-quality showcase, and to make everyday practice a natural part of public health.

The ability to host the world's biggest events and offer the best organization conditions

The presence of clubs and champions on national and international podiums,

The desire to place education and integration, as well as training, at the heart of institutional policy and the mission set out together with the associations,

Easy access for all: young people, seniors and the disabled,

The commitment to bring sport to all neighborhoods through a plan to develop highperformance local facilitie

All these factors contribute to a virtuous dynamic that is reflected in the constant increase in the number of members in all disciplines. With over 100,000 participants, the notion of "Sport for All" takes on its full meaning.

Nice Côte d'Azur boasts an exceptional playground, with more than 65 disciplines on offer, making it an ideal territory for outdoor activities, whose contours extend beyond the city limits to the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous hinterland. This is fully in line with the need to redeploy practices throughout the metropolis, to ensure greater fluidity and avoid saturation. It's also an opportunity to educate people about respect for nature and the richness of its flora and fauna, and to contribute to the development of sustainable practices.

Sport, with its focus on the fundamental values of team spirit, surpassing oneself, physical fitness and, of course, communion with the environment.

A little history

Today, Nice Côte d'Azur is a benchmark for sports. In so doing, it is reconnecting with over 200 years of history, in keeping with what has made Nice so unique, and with UNESCO's claim to the title of "City of the Riviera Winter Resort". We had to offer winter visitors innovative activities and entertainment of all kinds.

In 1879, the Régates de Nice were born. They were attended by the Prince of Wales and Sir Lipton. In 1898, one of the first tennis tournaments was hosted by Suzanne Lenglen, the 1st star in the history of tennis and a future iconic winner. In 1910, one of the first air meetings was held, featuring the greatest pioneers of the era, including Ferber. In 1933, to establish a link between his two newspapers and introduce his readers to the charms of the Côte d'Azur, the owner of Le Petit Journal Parisien and Le Petit Niçois created an innovative cycling race: the "Six jours de la Route", which became the "Paris-Nice" in 1954. In 1933/34, the "Trophée Altari" combined skiing in the morning in the high country with swimming in the afternoon in Nice. More recently, the Davis Cup final, the World Figure Skating Championships, the Tour de France, the French Ski Championships... and all the national team sports teams have been hosted here.

This long tradition is an integral part of the local DNA...

Nice Côte d’Azur, seaside activities

Coastal paths, water-skiing, windsurfing, paddle boarding... Along the 30 km of coastline of Nice Côte d'Azur. From Cap d'Ail to Cagnes-sur-Mer, the Mediterranean Sea becomes a playground in its own right. Villefranche-sur-Mer, for example, is the cradle of modern apnea, a kind of capital for this underwater sport where world championships are held every year.

A unique playground: the coastline

Here, it's easy to learn about the wonders of the marine world, thanks to associations such as SOS Grand Bleu -Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat-, the Centre de découverte du monde marin -Nice-, or the many diving clubs offering baptisms and activities. Equipped with mask, snorkel and flippers, you can also familiarize yourself with the life to be found on the rocks and in the Posidonia meadow: large mother-of-pearl, starfish, sea urchins, girelles, sars, sea bass, sea perch, sea anemones and other cnidarians... An introduction to the underwater world is available on the Anse des Fossettes -Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat- underwater hiking trail. On land, the seaside paths also offer unforgettable coastal walks: from Cap d'Ail or Cap Ferrat, via Villefranche-sur-Mer to Cap de Nice.

Nice Côte d'Azur is one of the world's oldest sailing clubs, and as far back as the 19th century, sailing was practiced with the creation of the famous Régates de Nice. Today, sailing is practiced on monohulls, catamarans, foils, sea kayaks, rowing boats... The painter Henri Matisse was a member of the Club Nautique de Nice, and practiced rowing every morning.

Take time to admire the horizon and stop to enjoy the many public and private beaches of Nice Côte d'Azur. In summer, swimming is supervised by professional lifeguards, and all kinds of water sports are available, including rowing, stand-up paddling, parasailing and towed buoys. On land, sandy beach volleyball courts are open to all.

Dive into the deep blue sea with Guillaume Néry,

Freediving champion, depth specialist, 2-time world champion and multiple world record-holder

"I grew up in Nice, with the mountains as my backdrop and the sea as my horizon. My thirst to explore nature and its wide open spaces took mealternatelyfromthepeaksoftheMercantour to the depths of the Mediterranean. I built my identityandpursuedmydreamsinthisbalance."

Keen to share his experience and love of the seabed,henowdevotespartofhistimetoraising public awareness of its beauty and fragility, notablythroughfilmsdirectedbyJulieGautier. (www.lesfilmsengloutis.com)

Sports on the coast

Most of the venues and infrastructures dedicated to top-level sport are located on the coast.

Soccer, with the Cité du Sport located in the Eco Vallée, bringing together professional and amateur clubs - including OGC Nice as resident club.

Rugby, with the Stade des Arboras. A multisports stadium located to the east of Nice and open to the general public depending on the competition. The resident clubs are Stade Niçois and Les Dauphins de Nice. The Combes training center for tennis and padel, completely renovated to FFT standards.

The Golf Country Club de Nice is the only driving range on the coast. It features a compact 9-hole course and 27 indoor stations.

https://www.explorenicecotedazur.com/en/ explore/activities-nice-cote-dazur/watersports/

A bike ride to continue?

A 15 km secure cycle path runs along the coast from Nice to Cagnes-sur-Mer, and a totem pole at Carras beach counts over 4,000 pedestrians on any given day. The city of Nice boasts 84 km of cycle paths, and 179 km throughout the Nice Côte d'Azur region. In its cycling plan, the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area aims to double the number of kilometers of cycle paths by 2026, and to achieve a 10% share of journeys made by bike. This extension is planned for each new road development.

The "blue bikes" are an alternative mode of transport, introduced in 2009. This automated bike rental service is available at 161 stations, with a total of 1,750 bikes. Since 2020, self-service electric bicycles have also been available, with the service now covering 6 communes. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they are made available to users aged 14 and over via a dedicated application.

The Portail des Sports

Reflecting the dynamism and richness of sporting life in Nice and the Côte d'Azur. It enables sports clubs and associations to communicate their activities, events and results free of charge and without limit. In just two years, the Portail des Sports has attracted over a million visitors!

https://sports.nice.fr/

Nice Côte d’Azur, mountain activities

With 80% of its territory made up of mountains, Nice Côte d'Azur stretches as far as the ski resorts of the Mercantour National Park, offering nature lovers an infinitely rich playground and a wide range of activities in every season.

A unique playground: the mountains

Here, hiking remains a safe bet - on foot, by bike, on horseback... - in the comfortable surroundings of mountain resorts such as Auron or Isola 2000, taking advantage of their numerous infrastructures, or plunging into a wilder nature in the protected areas of the Mercantour National Park. The park preserves the exceptional natural heritage and biodiversity of the Nice highlands. More and more sports enthusiasts are also taking advantage of these exceptional areas, while respecting their fragility. From spring to autumn, trail running attracts an ever-increasing number of enthusiasts, motivated by the Vésubie trail station and several competitions, including the Ultra-Trail Côte d'Azur Mercantour.

Even faster on their routes, especially when electric motors boost their strength tenfold, mountain bikers find the mountains of Metropolitan France a challenge area on a par with the best. Among them, Loïc Bruni, fourtime world downhill mountain bike champion, is proud to have evolved in this privileged natural setting: "I consider myself lucky to have grown up riding in the Mercantour. The terrain is very diverse, and the trails and scenery are magnificent!" Champions compete in the Transvésubienne.

"L'itinérance Auron-Nice en VTT à Assistance Électrique" crosses 16 communes over 261 kilometers, in 7 stages, averaging 40 km/day. It includes a passage over the Bonette, Europe's highest road pass, and a finish on the Promenade des Anglais. The route takes you from the highest peaks of the Mercantour to the shores of the Côte d'Azur, discovering incredible landscapes and a rich and varied heritage.

The 7 ski resorts in the Nice Côte d'Azur region complement each other. Each is unique and offers its own way of experiencing the mountains, with something for every taste and level. The Isola 2000 and Auron resorts are true training grounds. This is where budding champions push their limits before stepping onto the podium.

Summer and winter

Skiing down the slopes with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean, snowshoeing in the morning and paddleboarding in the afternoon - Nice Côte d'Azur is a dream come true. Here, pure mountain air is less than an hour and a half from the sea. The proximity of the resorts to the coast offers a wide variety of activity combinations. It's almost unique in France, and it's on the Nice Côte d'Azur territory.

Downhill ski resorts:

Isola 2000:

3 sectors, 120 km of trails

2000/2603 m

Auron:

As well as kilometers of slopes, there are plenty of other activities for an active vacation: snowshoeing, ice climbing, sledging, dog sledding, Nordic skiing, zip-lining and much more, the possibilities are endless. You can also experience the thrill of flying over the trees on a paraglider or on France's longest zip line, at La Colmiane, or confronting the void on a rock-climb or on one of the many via ferrata -La Colmiane, Lantosque, Roubion-, or following the course of the water on a canyoning course, in breathtakingly deep scenery.... And for training in all weathers, the Vesubià Mountain Park -Saint MartinVésubie- offers an introduction to canyoning and indoor climbing!

4 sectors, 120 km of trails

1600/2474 m

La Colmiane: 30 km of trails

1400/1800 m

Roubion les Buisses: 30 km of trails

1410/1920 m

Turini Camp d’argent: 15 km of trails

1700/1900 m

Nordic ski resorts:

Le Boréon: 20 km of cross-country ski trails for all levels - 1500 m

Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage : 4.5 km of trails for 2 loops - 1500 m

Our local champions

Many top athletes have tried their hand at their sport here for the first time. Others have chosen this destination as their training ground. Some of them particularly shone during the 2022 season.

Jean-Pierre DICK

Winner of the 12th Route du Rhum in the Rhum Mono category (2022)

Arthur GUÉRIN BOËRI

Dynamic apnea world record (2022)

Fabio QUARTARARO

Moto GP World Champion (2021) and vice-world champion (2022)

Alizée CORNET

First player to play 63 Grand Slams in a row (2022)

Loïc BRUNI

World downhill mountain bike champion (2022)

Mathieu FAIVRE

Olympic giant slalom silver medal (2022)

Maxime MONTAGGIONI

Gold medal para banked snowboard slalom at the Olympic Games (2022)

Manon FIOROT

UFC MMA first-place ranking (2022)

Regular sporting events

La Prom’Classic

Since 2000, it has welcomed thousands of runners along the famous 10 km stretch of the Promenade des Anglais. (January)

Le Trophée Andros

Car and motorcycle racing on ice. In 2009, it became the world's first 100% electric competition (January - Isola 2000).

Le Paris-Nice

A 1,307 km cycling route alternating between lowland and mid-mountain stages. The last and 8th stage takes us around Nice to the Promenade des Anglais. This event traditionally kicks off the international season. (March)

Le Trial International Indoor

Annual show at the Palais Nikaïa. The world's best drivers in the discipline (March)

Le Semi-Marathon International de Nice

Qualifying race for the French Championship.

It has established itself as one of the 5 most important events in France, both in terms of the number of participants and the level of performances achieved. (April)

Le Festival International des Arts Martiaux

It features the discipline's most famous and successful champions (May).

Le Triathlon International de Nice IRONMAN

Every year, 6,000 athletes from all over the world come to compete in "one of the most beautiful races in the world", according to the American specialist magazine Triathletes www.ironman.com/im-france (June).

For those who wish, it is possible to register for the IronMan 70.3, which offers the same events over half the distance.

www.ironman.com/im703-nice

Championnat de France d’apnée en eau libre

In 2023, the French Freediving Championship will celebrate its 10th anniversary, and will be held as usual in the harbour of Villefranche-sur-Mer (July - Villefranche-sur-Mer).

L’US Cagnes Triathlon – Challenge Family

Facing the Cagnes sur mer racecourse, the US Cagnes Triathlon combines swimming (1900m), cycling (96 km) and running (20 km). (June - Cagnes sur mer)

L'Ultra Trail® Côte d’Azur Mercantour

One of the world's most challenging trail events, it makes itself accessible to as many people as possible by offering 7 races for all levels (from 5 km to 125 km) utcam06.com/ (July)

La Transvésubienne

A legendary mountain bike race since 1988, this 82 km race links La Colmiane in Haute Vésubie to the Baie des Anges in Nice. www.ucc-sportevent.com/transvesubienne/ (October)

Nice Côte d’Azur By UTMB®

Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB© aims to become the biggest trail running event in the Mediterranean basin. In 2022, the race attracted some 4,000 competitors. nice.utmb.world/fr (September)

L’Europétanque d’Azur

This international pétanque competition brings together 1,500 players and over 3,000 spectators at the Cagnes-sur-Mer racecourse. (October)

Le Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes

With a distance of 42.195 km, it links the Promenade des Anglais in Nice to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.www.marathon06.com/2023/ (November)

Crédit Photos : P.Palomba, J.Kelagopian, H. Lagarde, A.Issock, I.Fabre, C Audibert Allianz Riviera, Ville de Nice, ©Shutterstock.com - Exécution : Jean-Elie Trujillo (www.jeanelietrujillo.com)