The Host Cities
of the World Cup
CLICK AND READ
Bordeaux/ Lens
Lyon / Marseille
Montpellier/ Nantes
Paris Saint-/Denis
Saint-Etienne/ Toulouse
Bordeaux
The City
Population : Inner city : 214,000 inh. Urban
area : 697,000 inh.
Mayor : Alain Juppé
The club
Girondins de Bordeaux 4 French League titles 3
times French Cup winners
Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you get
Bordeaux. Thus was the city described by Victor Hugo, struck by its majestic 18th
century constructions and its wide river.
A favourable geographical position
Built on the meandering Garonne river, a stone's
throw from the Atlantic Ocean, Bordeaux was already an important trading centre in the
Roman era. With its harbour and maritime activities came extraordinary prosperity in the
18th century. This was the golden age, a century of opulent fortunes and architectural
magnificence, which today are the pride and joy of Bordeaux's citizens.
As early as the 16th century, thanks to its
favourable geographical position, the city soon became the hub of north-south trade and
spearheaded relations with the New World. Wine, but also the trading of wood products,
further contributed to the city's growth.
Wine capital of the world
The Bordeaux name, of course, is synonymous with
fine wines. The largest and finest vineyard in the world are spread over 135,000 hectares;
and the annual production of 500 million bottles including such prestigious names as
Saint-Emilion, Margaux, Pomerol and Saint-Estèphe, to mention but a few, is shipped to
160 countries.
Bordeaux, cross-roads of the world
Today, Bordeaux has become a veritable
cross-roads, with first-class rail, road and air transport facilities. Recognized for its
industrial dynamism and quality of life, the city attracts researchers and industrial
businesses. Aquitaine's capital of the aeronautics and space industry, Bordeaux has become
a centre of attraction for businesses active in diversification and new industrial
processes. Advanced technology, biotechnology, the pharmaceutical and medical industries,
oceanology or biological engineering are major research areas.
Bordeaux University is one of the oldest in
France; its 60,000 students also make it one of the largest. In the area of culture,
Bordeaux is also in the lead. The city is rich in exceptional monuments. The city, in
addition to this precious heritage, is also very dynamic and creative, as testified by the
many artistic events it hosts every year.
Bordeaux DURING THE RUN UP TO THE WORLD CUP
Welcome to the world...
This is indeed the message that the city wishes
to convey to the thousands of fans and tourists that will be coming to Bordeaux during the
summer of 1998. A message inscribed on a commemorative plaque in the heart of the city
reads : In 98, Bordeaux will be welcoming the World Cup... We welcome the
world
Collective organisation
In preparation for the World Cup, the city has
set up a dedicated task force which works in close cooperation with the World Cup
Organizing Committee's local unit, as well as other local partners, with a view to
mobilizing the entire population, irrespective of their social background or age
The Aquitaine Region at play
There will be something for everyone in
Bordeaux, starting with Footballito tournament, a knock-out competition with
World Cup rules. The 32 teams made up of young football players from the Aquitaine region
have already got the ball rolling. And the final match in the competition is due to be
played during the World Cup competition itself.
Shopkeepers and businesses are also actively
preparing to meet the challenge of 1998. At last years ever-popular Bordeaux
International Trade Fair, some 350,000 visitors discovered the World Football Cup
pavilion, a joint venture put together by several World Cup partners from the Bordeaux
area.
Show time
From 10 June to 12 July 1998, Bordeaux will be
putting on a vast show. At the heart of the celebrations, the Welcome to the
World village will, for over a month, include stands showcasing local culinary
specialities, craftsmanship and cultural highlights, where everyone will get a chance to
discover the delights of France's south-west region.
A party just wouldnt be a party without
music! 15 Aquitaine Bandas, i.e. folk fanfares typical of the region, will
gather in Bordeaux to provide neighbourhood entertainment; later in the night, they will
congregate in the city's main squares, where the many visitors will be able to dance the
night away.
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Stéphane Grimaldi
Hôtel de Ville - Place Pey-Berland - 33077 Bordeaux Cedex Tel : (33) 5 56 10 17 50 - Fax
: (33) 5 57 79 29 70
World Cup task force Jean-Marie Brillon 32/34,
Allées dOrléans - 33000 Bordeaux Tel : (33) 5 57 20 19 98 - Fax : (33) 5 57 20 19
99
Tourist Office 12, cours du XXX juillet - 33080
Bordeaux Cedex Tel : (33) 5 56 00 66 00 - Fax : (33) 5 56 00 66 01
The Stadium
The Lescure Stadium, a fine example of 1930s
architecture, is one of Bordeaux's major 20th-century landmarks. It has been the stage of
many a memorable football game, but also of athletics and cycling events, held on its
outstanding track. Today, the stadium is being given a facelift, but will not retain its
character and importance in the city's heritage.
Name of Stadium : STADE LESCURE
Location : 2 km from downtown 4 km from train
station
First inaugurated : 12 June 1938 World Cup
quarter final Brazil - Czechoslovakia (1/1)
Feature : National heritage protected monument
Capacity before renovation : 45,000 places,
including 21,300 seats
Capacity in 1998 : 35,200 seats, including
15,000 sheltered
Renovation operations : Bends to be fitted with
seats.Entry points to be revamped and fitted with screening and security facilities.
Storage spaces, ticketing office, players' quarters and peripheral lighting to be
completely rehauled. Press stand to be extended. Videosurveillance system to be installed.
Construction operations : Construction of a
Press Centre, to be reconverted into multi-purpose sports facilities.
Date of completion : April 1998
Architects : Michel MOGA Pascal TEISSEIRE and
Hughes TOUTON
Lens
The City
Population : Inner city : 35,280 inh. Urban area
: 376,700 inh.
Mayor : André Delelis
The club
Racing Club de Lens 1 French League title
Lens, a city with Stamina
Located in the heart of the Artois district, the
city of Lens is spread over approximately 1,100 hectares. Favourably located in the centre
of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, it has a population of 350,000. The citizens of Lens,
who are recognised for their courage, altruism and hospitality, are proud of their history
and extremely attached to the land.
Development fuelled by coal
The discovery of coal in the region in 1849 lead
to unprecedented expansion for Lens, where the largest and most productive coal-mines were
to be found. For a century, Lens and its population lived from coal-mining. When recession
hit the industry in the sixties, Lens embarked on an ambitious modernisation programme.
New-found vitality
The number of businesses settling in Lens has
increased dramatically over the past few years. Over 19,000 people work there today in the
125 new businesses found in the 7 business parks and two service-industry centres. Main
business activities include retail, the food industry, construction and information
technology.
In step with this new expansion, the city of
Lens has developed its sports, cultural and university facilities. Today, 3,000 students
were involved in higher education in the area. Today, the Grands Bureaux, the
former coal-mining headquarters offices, have been given back to the people, and in 1992,
the municipality played an important part in founding the Jean Perrin Faculty of Sciences,
which is now part of the Artois Region University.
In carrying out its many development projects,
the city of Lens works in close co-operation with other communities, in particular within
the Lens-Liévin District, which at present comprises 36 municipalities, with a total
population of 251,000. The Lens area is also known for its youthfulness (41% of citizens
are under 25) and a demographic vitality which rank the region as one of the
youngest in France (birth rate is 17.1%).
Football is a religion
One can't talk about Lens without referring to
its obsession with football and the way the entire population gets behind its leading
football club, the Lens Racing Club. Several times during the year, the Félix Bollaert
stadium welcomes more spectators than the city has inhabitants !
LENS in the run-up to the World Cup
Lens makes up for being the smallest of the
World Cup host cities, with its get-up-and-go, its creativity and its determination to
make the biggest sport event at the end of this century a roaring success. The city is
determined to rise to the challenge and sees the World Cup as a chance for international
recognition.
Prepare to host the World Cup!
Immediately following the announcement that Lens
was to be one of the ten World Cup venues, strategic working groups were hard at work
planning how the city could best provide suitable hospitality, entertainment or
communication facilities for its visitors. A new feature downtown is a tourist office set
up by Lens and the Lens-Liévin District, which will mainly be in charge of welcoming
visitors in 98.
A collective effort
In setting up a regional organising committee,
Lens has gathered together all the areas important political, economic and social
players to prepare for the competition. Ultimately, this will mean that the
entire Nord-Pas-de-Calais region will come out on top.
With Lille's candidacy bid for the 2004 Olympic
Games having been turned down, it is the World Cup that has definitely taken over in the
hearts of the population in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. And make no mistake: when one
knows how excited the population of Lens and its renowned football fans can get over a
black-and-white ball, one can easily imagine the atmosphere that will spread throughout
the region when the time comes for the World Cup! As early as this summer, the Lens Racing
Club will travel to about 30 towns in the area with the Mini Bollaert, a
mobile football pitch, and offer a wide range of activities for the young and not so
young. The World Cup will, of course, be central to this initiative, which has received
generous support from local partners.
A time for celebration
Celebration is a way of life in
Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The region and its inhabitants are second to none in organising
events, and any excuse is a good one for gathering together in a festive and jovial
atmosphere. The local flowers market, trade fairs and processions featuring the well-known
local giants are all witnesses to the citys fun-loving reputation.
It has been a priority in Lens to include young
people in preparations for the big footballing event. Thus, Lens schoolchildren have
prepared an exhibition on the World Cup, presently on show in the municipal media library.
This initiative fits into a wider-scale citizenship education project, based on
inter-school exchange programmes among the 10 host cities.
Of one thing you can be certain, the summer of
1998 in Lens will be a memorable one !
CONTACTS
General Secretary city of Lens Serge KUZNIAK
Hôtel de ville - 62307 Lens cedex Tel : (33) 3 21 69 86 86 - Fax : (33) 3 21 43 11 65
Tourist Office District of Lens-Liévin 26, rue
de la Paix - 62300 Lens Tel : (33) 3 21 67 66 66 - Fax : (33) 3 21 67 65 66
THE STADIUM
The geographical position of Lens perhaps
explains why its stadium has such an English feel to it. The Félix Bollaert
stadium is, more than any other contruction, a symbol of the contrasts of the city of
Lens. Indeed, many times during the year, it welcomes more visitors than the city's entire
population ! This unique phenomenon is a sign of the whole region's craze for football,
and certainly bodes well for the organisation of the World Cup newt year.
Name of Stadium : FELIX BOLLAERT
Location : 10 minutes from downtown and from the
train/TGV station Highway exit at the stadium
First inaugurated : 1932
Capacity before renovation : 49,581 places,
including 32,000 standing
Capacity in 1998 : 41,275 seats
Renovation operations : Access rows to the
MAREK-LOUIS stand to be widened New sound system New ligting New scoreboards surveillance
new video monitoring system
Reconstruction operations : Construction of the
TRANNIN (inaugurated in February 96) and DELACOURT (public opening in August 96) stands.
Reconstruction of the LEPAGNOT, also called presidential, stand, with new prestige and
media seats.
Date of completion : July 1997 Architect : Milan
MARTIC
Lyon
The city
Population : Inner city : 422,400 inh. Urban
area : 1,262,000 inh.
Mayor : Raymond Barre
The club
Olympique Lyonnais 3 times French Cup Winners
Lyon, capital of the Gauls
In 43 B.C., L.M. Plancus chose Fourvière, a
hill dominating the Rhône river as it makes its way to the sea, as the site for founding
Lugdunum. The city, a younger sister to Rome, was built at a point where many
roads met, and was also symbolic of a crossing of destinies. It became the capital of
Gaul, and Lyon is nowadays the oldest Roman archeological site after Rome itself. The Old
Town is one of the most important and well-preserved Renaissance sectors in Europe. But
Lyon is also a silk capital, the place where the Jacquard method of weaving was invented,
where manufacturers, merchants and silkweavers made the town famous throughout the world.
Lyon, economic focal point
The capital of the Rhône-Alpes region has a
unique position at the very centre of Europe, and as a large city possesses considerable
industrial and business advantages. Numerous world-class companies and international
institutions have set up their headquarters there, bringing the city into the front line
among Europes economic leaders. Its wide range of business sectors include
metallurgy, electronics, chemistry, pharmaceutical products, biotechnology, the food
industry, electricity, plastics technology and textiles, as well as banking and insurance,
engineering, consultancy and communication.
Lyon, the art of living well
Lyon owes its distinctive character to its
surroundings, which include two steep hills, a vast plain and two rivers. During the last
decade, the city has become even more handsome, transforming and improving its squares and
gardens, and implementing a lighting strategy to show off its finest features: 150 points
of interest are now illuminated each night. A strategy which has been exported elsewhere
throughout the world with great success, for the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the city of
Jerusalem, and recently Havana have all benefited from Lyons expertise in this
respect.
More than 4 million tourists visit Lyon each
year, enticed by its many aesthetic pleasures and famous cuisine, spear-headed by Paul
Bocuse and also to be found in the citys bouchons, little picturesque
restaurants offering a wide range of Lyon specialities.
Cultural metropolis
Lyon is the place where cinema was first brought
to light by the Lumière Brothers in 1895, and possesses many important cultural
institutions that all contribute to its glowing international reputation, including Lyon
Opera, the Institut Lumière, the Maison de la Danse and 27 museums. The Rhône-Alpine
capital positively buzzes with artistic activity, and its contemporary art and bi-annual
dance festivals attract increasingly wider audiences each time around.
Lyon in the run up to the World cup
Lyons destiny, as its origins and each
stage in its history clearly show, has always been linked with other parts of the world :
Roman Lyon, Christian Lyon, the Lyon of Renaissance bankers and poets, and the development
of its silk industry which opened the way even further afield to China and Asia. An
important focal point in south-east Europe in general, Lyon is a city immensely accessible
to the rest of the world, as witness the staging of the recent G7 summit there. The
football World Cup, which it is to host in 1998, is a natural consequence of its
outward-looking policies and already considerable international celebrity.
Partners rally round
All the «partners» in the Lyon area - the
local, departmental and consular authorities, and, of course, the State - work together on
a daily basis to achieve the many big projects that lay before them. The organisation of
the coming World Cup is another chance to show their solidarity. At this very moment, the
regional authorities, General Council, urban community, Guild chamber, Tourist Office and
the city and urban division councils are all putting their shoulders to the wheel so that
the great football celebration will be a success. Their ambition is to give Lyons
thousands of visitors the chance to really discover the city and what it has to offer, so
that they will want to come back, for business or for pleasure.
The great celebration will involve all
Lyon-dwellers. Many of them have already declared their willingness to help in making the
occasion something truly to remember.
A call for new ideas
The city of course, intends to pull out all the
stops so that the Football World Cup celebrations go off with a bang ! To this end, a
national call for tenders has been sent out seeking original ideas on how to entertain the
foreign visitors and at the same time include the local population.
A foretaste of the celebration
In hosting two matches for the Tournoi de
France, Lyon has been propelled directly into the operational phase of the World Cup. The
feast of football has already begun there with a special musical soirée put on free for
all the citizens of Lyon on 7 June, the night before the Brazil vs Italy game, when
Brazilian, Italian and French artists gave thousands of Lyon dwellers the chance to soar
away to other climes, just for an evening. Excitement, universality and sharing are
already the order of the day, twelve months before the World Cup kicks off !
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Patrick LAMARQUE
Hôtel de ville - 1 place de la comédie - 69205 Lyon cedex 01 Tel : (33) 4 72 10 30 34 -
Fax : (33) 4 72 10 30 45
Tourist Office Place Bellecour -69002 Lyon Tel :
(33) 4 72 77 69 69- Fax : (33) 4 78 37 02 06
THE STADIUM
The Stade Gerland, designed in 1926 by Tony
Garnier, is one of the two World Cup stadiums listed as historic monuments. Inspired by
Roman architecture, the stadium is surrounded by a gallery set on a grass embankment and
punctuated by four great symbolic gateways. After many alterations throughout the years,
Gerland is undergoing a further youthful facelift in readiness for the World Cup.
Name of the Stadium : GERLAND
Location : Lyons 7th arrondissement Easily
accessible from city centre
Original inauguration : 1926 by Edouard Herriot
Capacity before refurbishment : 42,000 places
Capacity in 1998 : 44,000 all seated
Renovation operations : New lay-out of two
curved sides of stadium, with new metallo-textile roof to cover them. Restructuring of
Jean-Jaurès and Jean Bouin stands, with installation of individual seating, new boxes and
improvement of players areas. Competition equipment, and lighting, sound, display
and video monitoring systems to be brought up to World Cup standards.
Reconstruction operations : Esplanade to be
built in front of Jean-Jaurès stand, and square behind the terraces.
Completion date : September 1997
Architect : Agibat - Atelier de la Rize Albert
Constantin
Marseille
The City
Population : Inner city : 807,000 inh. Urban
area : 1,000,000 inh.
Mayor : Jean-Claude Gaudin
The Club
Olympique de Marseille
Winner of European 1 Champions League 8 French
League titles 10 times French Cup winners
The Oldest City in France
In 1999, one year ahead of schedule, Marseille
will be first to kick off the celebrations to mark the third Millennium, in commemorating,
with great pomp and circumstance, the city's own 26th centenary !
The city first came into existence 2,600 years
ago, born of the union between Protis, a Greek sailor from Phocaea, and the beautiful
Gyptis, daughter of the king of the Ligurians. They settled on the shore of what is today
called the Vieux Port ( the Old Harbour). This was Massalia which became the
first urban outpost in France. Over the years, Marseille dwellers have always been proud
of their citys distinctive character. Inside the famous Cosquer cave is evidence
that Marseilles first inhabitants lived there some 28,000 years ago! Today Marseille
is also seen in the context of its beautiful setting, an attractive region containing 111
villages, charming hills nearby and a jagged coastline of bays and inlets.
Marseilles New Image
Having now turned the corner after a number of
difficult years, Marseille is ready to embark on the third millennium with great verve and
a brand new image. Continuing the traditional role as a cross-roads between northern
Europe, the Mediterranean and the East, the city is presently being
restructured around the harbour area : the Euro-Mediterranean economic
development and planning operation will make Marseille a hub in southern Europe for
international trade and decision-making. While the overall plan for the city is designed
to develop and renovate areas most in need of attention, the renovation of the city centre
has already produced results with improvements in housing, the building of a university
and student facilities, the emergence of new businesses and the innovation of theme
streets such as the recently inaugurated rue de la mode [fashion street]
near the Opera House.
The cultural Capital of the South
Over recent years Marseille has put on dance,
theatre, music exhibitions, as well as street art, earning itself the reputation as the
Euro-Mediterranean capital for artistic creation. The people of Marseille have always been
greatly attached to their opera house and to the Roland Petit National Ballet Company; it
is in fact the city with the record for the highest number of theatres per head of
population in France. And today, there is more cultural enterprise in the city than ever
before, including concerts, festivals and major projects such as the Grand
Library and the Cité des Arts.
Marseille in the run up to the World cup
The World Cup in Marseille, where football is an
integral part of the average citizens everyday life, is symbolic indeed. And so in
preparation for this momentous event, the majestic and newly renovated Velodrome stadium
will play host on 4 December 1997 to the draw that will decide the fate of the 32
qualifying teams for the Finals. But the World Cup is also a prelude to another grand and
symbolic event : the city of Marseille celebrates its 2,600th birthday a few months later
in 1999 !
Welcome!
In preparation for these events, Marseille has
composed a comprehensive programme including a communication campaign designed to motivate
and involve the population of the city to join together in a spirit of welcome.
So that everyone who lives in Marseille realises
just how important the World Cup is, the municipal authorities will be installing six
multi-branch signposts on the main roads leading into the city and at the Parc Chanot near
the stadium. In Marseille this Summer no one could possibly fail to hear the news that the
most important sporting event of the millennium is coming to the city !
Building up to the draw
A city programme is to be launched at the
International Fair in September, where Marseille dwellers traditionally gather. The World
Cup will also be featured at the Cité de la Réussite [City of Success] held
at the Palais du Pharo in October and attended by members of various elites in such fields
as culture, economics and politics. In November the message will be festive for the
Fiesta des Sud, focusing this year on the colours of the different qualifying
nations. World Cup fever should reach a pitch on 3 December with a big light show over the
Old Harbour and will culminate on 4 December at the Velodrome stadium where thousands will
gather for the Finals draw.
Marseille has planned a number of communication
events and presentations in the first half of 1998, aimed at maintaining the level of
excitement and interest right up to the World Cup. This will include the Marseille
Carnival focusing on the nations which are to play World Cup matches in Marseille in
Summer.
A Hot Summer Ahead !
Long-term forecasts for the Summer of 1998 show
that things are bound to heat up in Marseille where six activity centres will be operating
full-time for a month. As well as football sites such as the Velodrome stadium and nearby
area, the Parc Borely will be the venue for a cultural adventure travelling around
the world in just one country, a voyage of initiation across the world. The Old
Harbour will feature crafts and food stalls by day, plus music and dancing by night. The
Prado Beach will be set aside for young people to play sport, listen to music or watch the
matches. And for business, the Palais du Pharo will be transformed into a large centre for
commerce and contacts of all kinds, presenting a display case for the dynamic forces at
work in Marseille.
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Guy PHILIP Palais du
Pharo - Boulevard Charles Livon - 13007 Marseille Tel : (33) 4 91 14 64 07 - Fax : (33) 4
91 14 64 01
Tourist Office La Canebière - 13001 Marseille
Tel : (33) 4 91 13 89 00 - Fax : (33) 4 91 13 89 20
The Stadium
The Paris region has the Stade de France, but
there are also plans for a grand stadium in Marseille, the city where football
is virtually a religion. Although new foundations will not be laid, the stadium is to
undergo a complete facelift, making it a new stadium, designed as a vast
domain devoted to games and sport and part of the city itself.
Name of Stadium : VELODROME
Location : Right in the heart of the city.
First inaugurated : June 13, 1937
Capacity before renovation : 42,000, of which
10,000 standing
Capacity in 1998 : 60,000 seats
Renovation operations : Upgraded to comply with
World Cup standards for fittings, lighting, sound system, signs, score display fixtures
and video-surveillance. Modernisation of the changing rooms and boxes Press conference
room, permanent press centre and catering areas to be built.
Reconstruction operations : Increased capacity
by rebuilding the stands and surrounds. Construction of 32 km stands.
Date of completion : January 1998
Inauguration of renovated stadium : Spring 1998
Architect : Jean-Pierre BUFFI
Montpellier
The City
Population : Inner city : 210,000 inh. Urban
area : 350,000 inh.
Mayor : Georges Frêche
The club
Montpellier-Hérault S.C. 1 French Cup.
Montpellier, a thousand years young
The name Monspestellario is recorded as far back
as 985. From its earliest days, the town on the edge of the Mediterranean coast has always
been on the up.
It was a stop for pilgrims on the road to
Santiago de Compostela, traders would halt there on their way along the Salt Route, and
students and scholars made it into the first Euro-Mediterranean city by setting up the
world's first Faculty of Medicine. Rabelais, Rondelet and Nostradamus all contributed to
the renown of the university, which attracted scholars from all over the world.
In 1204, with the Charter of Customs and
Liberties, it became a true democracy, a free and prosperous town. The city, under
Spanish Catholic rule for two centuries, then under Protestant influence during the reign
of Henri IV, still bears the scars of the Wars of Religion. Only in the 18th and 19th
centuries did peace and prosperity return, when, as the centre of the Languedoc states,
Montpellier acquired true capital status.
A Mediterranean Eurocity
Capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, over
the past few years Montpellier has created more businesses than any other city in France
with a population of over 100,000, rising in the space of two decades from 21st to 8th
city in the country.
Since 1985, the Montpellier District has been
conducting its economic development strategy under the aegis of the Association
Montpellier Languedoc Roussillon Technopole, which is active in fields ranging from
tourism to tropical agronomy, medical industries, telecommunications and
real-to-virtual-world interfaces. The association also provides members with tools and
services to support their development and company start-up strategies, and works closely
with universities and research sectors. With 65,000 students, 3 universities and a wide
range of curricula, Montpellier is constantly broadening its reputation as a Eurocity and
one of southern Europe's most prominent technological research parks.
Art in the heart of the city
As a university city, Montpellier has a young
and dynamic population, and has made culture one of its priorities. With its philharmonic
orchestra, two opera houses, rock 'n' roll venue and numerous music festivals,
Montpellier's dedication to music is undeniable. Dance is also a feature, with the
Languedoc-Roussillon national choreographic centre of Montpellier, recently set up in new
premises devoted entirely to dance, and unique in Europe. Lastly, the Mediterranean Film
Festival is a yearly celebration of the movie industry.
Montpellier in the run up to the World Cup
To use the event to project the best
possible image for the city and the region, to involve the community, to offer our
visitors entertainment and warm, well-organised hospitality, to provide the event with a
true cultural dimension, these, in a nutshell, are the aims underlying all projects
developed by Montpellier over the past few months.
The FRANCE 98 crusade
The city and the surrounding area have been
preparing for the Football World Cup for a long time, starting in 1996, when the Mayor of
Montpellier and the President of the Languedoc-Roussillon Football League embarked on a
vast regional tour to spread the word about the World Cup among the population.
Montpellier is already in a position to measure
the spin-off of the Football World Cup in terms of jobs, with many local companies working
on the Mosson stadium renovation. The World Cup will also have a significant effect on
tourism, given the world-wide profile of the event. As it is hosting 6 matches,
Montpellier will be welcoming thousands of new visitors. The city is already well-known
for its hospitality, as is borne out by its reputation. So it is not surprising that the
entire tourist industry, both in the city and further afield, is dedicated to preparing
for the event, so that visitors can discover and enjoy the many architectural,
gastronomical and cultural treasures of Montpellier and the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
In 1998, creativity will be an essential ingredient in tourist circuits and gastronomical
menus, as well as in the city's decorations, which are sure to be highly original.
Goooooooaaaaal!
Today, the famous Place de la Comédie is ready
for the Football World Cup : the FRANCE 98 mascot Footix is an integral part of the
countdown to the big event, crowing Buuuuuuut! (goal !) every hour
on the hour from his perch.
A time to relax after the game In December 1996,
the city launched a wide-ranging press campaign highlighting post-match entertainment, an
initiative acclaimed with an award by a jury of advertising professionals. The programme
of events prepared by the city is highly appealing. For example, two orchestras
representing two teams are to play each other, while a football game is
projected onto a giant screen behind them. Another project is the world premiere of a
large-scale dance event accompanied by 112 musicians. And Montpellier has much more in
store. A year before the event, the city is ready !
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Marie-France DEWAST
Hôtel de ville - 1 place Francis Ponge - 34064 Montpellier cedex 2 Tel : (33) 4 67 34 72
12 - Fax : (33) 4 67 64 56 77 From the 1st July Tel : (33) 4 67 61 67 27 - Fax : (33) 4 67
61 67 00
Tourist Office 78, avenue du Pirée - 34000
Montpellier Tel : (33) 4 67 58 67 58 - Fax : (33) 4 67 58 67 59
THE STADIUM
By increasing capacity to 35,500 seats, the
Stade de la Mosson is taking a big step and joining France's family of large stadiums. The
facility, built in 1988, has since its construction undergone a series of transformations
that parallel the ascent of its home team.
Name of Stadium : LA MOSSON
Location : In the La Paillade quarter, 4 km from
downtown, in Northwest Montpellier
First inaugurated : 1988 (when Montpellier
ascended back into 1st division)
Capacity before renovation : 23,500 places, of
which 7,500 standing
Capacity in 1998 : 35,500 seats
Renovation operations : Standing places to be
converted into seats. Changing rooms and lighting, sound, scoreboard and videosurveillance
system to be brought up to World Cup standards.
Reconstruction operations : New Press Centre,
Official Salon and multi-level VIP stands (Aigoual, Cévennes, Gévaudan, Méditerranée)
to be built, for a total of 1,600 seats.
Date of completion : June 4, 1998
Architect : Cabinet BBA Denis BEDEAU and
Philippe BONON
Nantes
The City
Population : Inner city : 244,500 inh. Urban
area : 499,200 inh.
Mayor : Jean-Marc Ayrault
The Club
F.C. Nantes-Atlantique 7 French League 1 French
Cup
A City of irresistible charm
Over the centuries, Nantes has thrived by making
the most of its strategic position at a natural cross-roads between the land and the sea.
The castle that was once the residence of the Dukes of Brittany is now undergoing a major
restoration. It was here, four centuries ago, that Henri IV signed the Edict of Nantes,
formally recognising the right to individual choice. With its position by the sea, the
city developed into one of France's major ports. While maritime and naval activity have
now moved downstream to Saint-Nazaire, the entire estuary has joined forces and turned
Nantes-Atlantique into the metropolitan centre for the west of France.
Breeding talent
The estuary has a healthy economy that has been
undergoing radical change. Every industry within the service sector is established here,
e.g. medicine, administration, finance, information technology and trade, which makes
Nantes the second most important French city for the service industry. The estuary itself,
the fourth most important industrial region in France, is home to an array of engineering
companies (maritime, mechanical, electronics, I.T.) as well as the food and timber
industries. In an environment which promotes get-up-and-go, talent and success stories can
be found in abundance. A busy port, decentralised expansion facilitated by the TGV
high-speed train links and a network of training and research centres made up of 2,000
researchers and 43,000 students all contribute to Nantes considerable reputation.
Every year a thousand engineers graduate from the various tertiary industry institutions
in the area. An amazing place Traditional cultural events are programmed in Nantes, often
alongside some quite breathtaking creative innovations. This is only to be expected from
the city that was the birthplace of Jules Vernes and the cradle of surrealism. Such
eclecticism can be seen today through the harmonious co-existence of institutions such as
the famous opera house, the Pays-de-Loire National Philharmonic Orchestra and the
Loire-Atlantique cultural centre. Cultural events in the regions calendar include :
the Carnival in April, the Summer Festival in June where musicians from around the world
come to perform, and the Erdre programme, which combines music and water sports in a
unique natural setting.
Another attraction is the Folles
Journées at the Cité des congrès where thousands gather to listen to the music of
a chosen composer.
NANTES IN THE RUN-UP TO THE WORLD CUP
The city sees the World Cup as an opportunity to
offer visitors, both French and international, the very best of what the region has to
offer, so they go home with fond memories and dream of coming back one day, to explore
further and to learn more. It has been Nantes intention, ever since news broke that
it had been chosen as a host city, to open its doors to everyone.
The capital of the Loire region wasted no time
when it came to taking up the challenge. Football is a tradition here and the
nantaise style of play universally recognised by fans of the game. For Nantes,
it certainly wont be difficult to drum up World Cup enthusiasm within the local
communities.
Football, conveying true values
In 1998, Nantes will celebrate the 400th
anniversary of the signing of the Edict of Nantes. And what better way could there be of
conveying to the world and the youth of today the message contained in this edict of
tolerance than by sport? To achieve this, the city has launched a Supporters
Charter programme for school-children in the ten cities in the World cup programme:
a charter based on the principle of tolerance, a key rule in sport and in particular in
football.
Giant celebrations in Nantes !
What was once the LU biscuit factory, and is now
part of the city's industrial heritage, is to be taken over to become a meeting place and
entertainment area for the World Cup, where young people can get together, swap ideas and
experiences and discover something new.
Nantes is also host to a quite amazing theatre
troupe named the Royal de Luxe. The troupe, which won the 1996 grand theatre
award, will be providing the creative input to make the giant, a huge 10 metre
tall puppet that walks through the city acting out a series of scenes. In the Summer of
1998, the Giant will be galvanising the streets as it tell tales of travels in Africa, a
continent where football is of paramount importance.
As Nantes will be host to Brazil during the
first stages of the competition, the municipal authorities have decided to build a copy of
the famous Brazilian beach, Copacabana, in the heart of the city. Tons of golden sand will
transform the former home of the Dukes of Brittany into a citadel for football.
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Guy LORANT Hôtel de
ville - BP 1013 - 44036 Nantes cedex 01 Tél : (33) 2 40 41 67 08 - Fax : (33) 2 40 41 59
39
Tourist Office- Nantes Atlantique 7, rue de
Valmy - 44041 Nantes cedex 01 Tél : (33) 2 40 20 60 00 - Fax : (33) 2 40 89 11 99
THE STADIUM
The Nantes-Atlantique club, which has won the
French Championship seven times, had a new football stadium built in 1984 to host the
European Championship. Though it is a relatively recent construction, further improvements
are to be made in preparation for the six World Cup matches.
Name of stadium : LA BEAUJOIRE - LOUIS FONTENEAU
Location : 7 km from downtown
First inaugurated : May 8, 1984. FCNA-Rumania
(0-1)
Capacity before renovation : Approx. 52 000, of
which 17 000 standing
Capacity in 1998 : 39 500 seats
Renovation operations : New stands to be built
on both upper and lower levels and surrounds. Change to the rake of the stands Renovation
of entrances to stadium and restoration of playing area Upgrade to comply with World Cup
standards for fittings, lighting, sound system, score display fixtures and installation of
new video-surveillance network.
Construction operations : Additional boxes and
reception lounges. Installation of anti-wind protection.
Date of completion : April 1998
First match : April 4, 1997 (FNCA-Olympique de
Marseille) with World Cup capacity.
Construction management : City of Nantes
Paris
The City
Population : Inner city : 2,200,000 inh. Urban
area : 9,000,000 inh.
Mayor : Jean Tibéri
The club
Paris-Saint-Germain F.C.
2 French League titles
4 Times French Cup winners
1 European Cup winners Cup
The thousand and one faces of Paris
Paris occupies a very special place in the
cultural heritage of the world : all men and women, wherever they come from, discover a
little piece of their imagination here, something like a second home. There is the Paris
of History : the site has been inhabited since Palaeolithic times. The city grew from an
island on the Seine settled by a Gallic tribe, the Parisii (2nd century B.C.), hence its
name. There is the Paris of every day, with its hundred villages and small
trades. This is the Paris where it is so pleasant to live, with its secret gardens
like the ones on the banks of the Seine, or in the Marais and Saint-Germain des Prés.
There is the Paris of monuments, which the entire world seems to have known for a long
time : Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré Coeur, etc. And of course,
there is the bubbling, imaginative and lively Paris, always ready for a party or for a
show, the Paris of the arts and of creativity. Paris is also a city of challenge,
ambition, and determination to succeed. And there is the dynamic and active business world
of Paris, with a constant economic revival. Paris is also a city of major works from which
is emerging the modern face of the 20th century, that of Bercy, the new Montparnasse and
the Left Bank. These are the thousand and one faces of Paris which all the players and
spectators of the 1998 Football World Cup will be able to discover, a Paris which has no
intention of becoming a museum city, but which discloses itself by chance, when wandering
through its streets, meeting its people, encountering the unexpected. It is a city which
belongs to the realm of the imagination.
PARIS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE WORLD CUP
Paris is well-versed in hosting international
events. With more trade fairs and conventions than anywhere else in the world for the past
15 years, Paris will once again be the destination this summer for hundreds of thousands
of young people from all over Europe as they participate in the Journées Mondiales
de la Jeunesse (World Youth Days).
A warm welcome
It is not a matter of chance that all events
held in Paris are so successful. Each one is analysed thoroughly with a view to improving
the quality of organisation and hospitality. With some 20 million tourists visiting the
capital every year, the quality of the reception given them is a top priority.
It is precisely this priority that dictates the
policy of the Paris city council in preparing for the 16th Football World Cup. Together
with the tourist industry, institutions and various other partners involved in organising
this event, a number of task forces have for some time been working towards the summer of
1998, anticipating all eventualities so that the event will be a resounding success.
Catering to everyones taste
Not only will Paris be welcoming spectators for
all the matches played at the Parc des Princes, it will also be the place through which
most fans will be passing to reach the 9 other World Cup host cities. It will also be a
platform for the 9,000-odd accredited journalists covering the competition, with the
International Media Centre at the Parc des Expositions (trade fair centre), located at the
Porte de Versailles. Nevertheless, Paris won't be forgetting the hundreds of thousands of
other tourists, maybe less keen on football, who will be coming to visit the capital, nor
will it ignore Parisians themselves, whom it would like to involve in the great
celebration.
So that everyone can go home with fond memories
of Paris in the summer of 1998, the city has set a number of objectives: Quality
hospitality, with information areas scattered throughout the capital and offering
multilingual services; Mobilisation of the tourist industry to provide top-quality
service; Close co-operation with public transport operators to optimise traffic
flow.
On with the show!
For the first time in history, and to make the
last World Cup of the century something truly to remember, a huge show for everybody is to
be laid on, getting the 16th World Cup off to a roaring start. On June 9, the day before
the opening match, Paris and all of France will be welcoming the world with a vast
celebration in the heart of the capital. A symbol of excitement, universality and sharing
on the eve of the year 2000! And when the lights are finally dimmed after the event, the
streets of Paris will still be ringing with the sounds of the party, and with the Parisian
gaiety without which Paris just would not be Paris.
So whether you are a fan or not, French or
foreign, Parisian or from the suburbs, 1998 will have something for everyone. Welcome to
Paris !
CONTACTS
Special Adviser to the Mayor of Paris for
Communication Jean-Pierre LABRO Hôtel de ville - 75196 Paris RP Tél : (33) 1 42 76 40 21
- Fax : (33) 1 42 76 64 51
Tourist Office 127, avenue des Champs - Elysées
- 75008 Paris Tél : (33) 1 49 52 53 54 - Fax : (33) 1 49 52 53 00
THE STADIUM
The Parc des Princes has a special place in the
hearts of the French people. Ever since its renovation in 1972, it has been the stage for
the triumphs of Frances rugby and football teams, and with its versatile lay-out has
a reputation as one of the top-class venues in Paris for concerts, supercross
championships and showjumping competitions, not to mention the Paris S-G matches. «Le
Parc» is to undergo several improvements before hosting World Cup matches.
Name of stadium : PARC DES PRINCES
Location : In the 16th arrondissement in Paris,
above the périphérique (ring road) at the west side of the city (Porte Saint
Cloud).
Original inauguration : June 1972
Capacity before refurbishment : Up to 48,725
seats
Capacity in 1998 : 49,000 all seated
Renovation operations : Replacement of all seats
in the stadium for improved spectator comfort. New lay-out for presidential and official
stands, together with press areas. Modernisation of changing rooms. Lighting, sound
systems and scoreboards to be brought up to World Cup standards; new video monitoring
system installed.
Construction operations : New 44-seat stand with
accessibility for physically disabled spectators.
Completion date : March 1998
Construction management : City of Paris
Architect: Cabinet Roger TAILLIBERT
St-Denis
THE CITY
Population : Inner city : 95,000 inh. Urban area
: See Paris.
Mayor : Patrick Braouezec
Saint-Denis is a city rich in contrasts, a place
where the famous Gothic basilica and the ultra-modern Stade de France can exist side by
side in perfect harmony. With a solid footing in the past and resolutely turned towards
the future, it is a place that often glows with the magic atmosphere generated by big
events. And the royal city is forging ahead to the third millennium with all the force of
a champion.
Necropolis for the Kings of France
Denis, the first bishop of Lutetia in the 3rd
century, met a tragic end. According to legend, after he was beheaded at Montmartre, he
walked with his head under his arm to the village which took his name. His tomb was a
place of pilgrimage before becoming a royal abbey with a very special function. For the
celebrated basilica, jewel of the Gothic period, houses 70 royal tombs, those of nearly
all the kings of France since Hugues Capet. An important focal point in the France of
mediaeval times and the Capetian era, Saint-Denis took on a very different aspect during
the industrial revolution of the 19th century, becoming one of the chief industrial and
economic centres in the immediate vicinity of Paris. Several waves of immigrants since
then have made a considerable contribution to the economic dynamism of the city, and given
it a truly cosmopolitan feel.
Contrasts in architecture
Saint-Denis has preserved many of its
architectural splendours from the past: the cathedral with its royal tombs, together with
a monastery built under Louis XV, now Maison dEducation de la Légion
dHonneur (a school for the children of those holding the Légion
dhonneur) and several archaeological remains, which can be seen in the city museum.
But Saint-Denis also boasts many buildings
impressive for their modernism, designed by well-known architects such as Simounet,
Ciriani, Gaudin and Oscar Niemeyer.
Saint-Denis, 9 km north of Notre-Dame in Paris,
plays an important role in the economic life of the Paris metropolitan area. For the last
hundred years it has been the home of large business concerns, which today include
Siemens, Panasonic, the Gaz de France research centre, the TGV (high-speed train)
workshops and numerous audio-visual companies.The new road infrastructures being built to
accommodate World Cup traffic are additional bonuses which have attracted several new
companies to the city.
Cosmopolitan city
With the passing of time and developments in
economic and industrial areas, Saint-Denis population has gradually gained a variety
of people from different ethnic backgrounds, who have in turn made the city a universal
meeting place. Its culture has been vastly enriched by this ethnic injection, a feature of
life in Saint-Denis of which the city is justly proud. And while many celebrated cultural
events regularly take place there, such as its music and Acteurs à
lécran festivals, the book fair, and performances at its famous theatre,
Saint-Denis is also a city with a high profile in the sports world, and annually hosts an
international athletics meeting.
SAINT-DENIS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE WORLD CUP
A metamorphosis in action
The World Cup at Saint-Denis represents far more
than the 9 matches and the opening and closing ceremonies that are to be staged there.
Its even more than a gigantic stadium that gets handsomer every day - its even
more than an already fantastic adventure!
Ever since the announcement that it was to be
one of the host cities, Saint-Denis has considered the World Cup as a real project
embracing many issues: social, economic and cultural. The city and the whole population is
working as one on a process of transformation and improvement, moving together towards the
great global consecration in 1998, which everyone sees, with enormous
enthusiasm, as a dynamic springboard to the third millennium.
At the heart of this metamorphosis, the Stade de
France rises majestically skywards, and in its wake follows a whole new world of
infrastructures. For the World Cup means that Saint-Denis will have two new stations for
access to the stadium, and numerous amenities and services in the locale which will
contribute to the new royal aspect of the city where the kings of France have their
resting place. Something for everybody From the outset, the City Council of Saint-Denis
has wanted to involve as many people as possible in the preparations for the event. The
football logo is already proudly displayed throughout the city through a street exhibition
tracing the history of the Football World Cup, and a year away from kick-off, Saint-Denis
has launched a World Cup countdown system, inaugurated on 9 June at the main junction in
the city centre.
Students and pupils are thoroughly involved in
all the citys schools. Those at the Suger school have been corresponding for several
months already with schoolchildren in Barcelona, Milan, Paris and Manchester, so that they
can get to know other supporters clubs better. Their work will culminate in 1998
with a grand meeting on the theme Sport and citizenship. Other schoolchildren
have been involved in the transformation of the areas they live in by participating in
exhibitions.
Plans for a welcome village are at present being
finalised, and it will soon be built. This will be a rallying point for all the local and
regional partners, who will doubtless want to take advantage of the occasion by
advertising their services and products.
A festival of joy
Saint-Denis has pulled out all the stops in
honour of the greatest sporting event at the end of the century. 1998 is to be a real
festival, a truly magnificent occasion where sport, cultural activities and the performing
arts will combine in a magical experience involving everybody, locals and visitors alike.
The programme includes a grand carnival procession, a son-et-lumière show called
New Look, a fairground set up for the duration of the event, a literary
voyage around all the 32 countries qualifying for the World Cup, a rock concert
venue, a multi-section exhibition put on throughout the city, dance cafés all along the
canal and many, many more events to be conceived and performed by acclaimed professionals
in the world of performance - in short, nothing less than a festival of joy !
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Fabien DOUZENEL Hôtel
de ville - BP 269 - 93205 Saint Denis cedex Tél : (33) 1 49 33 62 30 - Fax : (33) 1 49 33
68 24
Tourist Office 1, rue de la République - 93200
Saint Denis Tél : (33) 1 55 87 08 70 - Fax : (33) 1 48 20 24 11
The FRANCE 98 Football World Cup was the force
that generated it, and now the Stade de France can only be described in superlatives: the
biggest multi-function Olympic-sized stadium in the world; the biggest worksite in France,
and the one that has received the most media attention. From day one in May 1995 when
building work started, the site, due for completion in November 1997, has never failed to
astonish its visitors. It has to be said that over and above its technical achievements,
the stadium, conceived by the Bouygues, GTM-Entrepose and SGE Groups, and designed by the
architects Macary, Zubléna, Regembal and Costantini, is impressive for many other
reasons!
Variable capacity
Thanks to its variable capacity, its
unparalleled comfort, and the exceptional quality of its installations, the Stade de
France can host a wide variety of events ranging from football and rugby matches to shows
on a grand scale, as well as athletics competitions.
The ability to vary its capacity is one of the
Stade de Frances chief assets. The circle of mobile stands closest to the sports
area, and which contain 25,000 seats, is an amazing technical achievement, for never
before has flexibility on this scale been attempted. The stands, when set in a
configuration 15 metres back from the running tracks and the jumping pits, provides 21,000
seats, giving spectators maximum visibility. The middle stand has a capacity of 30,000,
and the upper stand 25,000. In addition, the stadium ground itself can accommodate 25,000,
bringing the maximum capacity for large-scale shows to 105,000.
Comfort for everybody
Everything has been designed with the comfort of
each spectator in mind: the public has easy access to covered seats thanks to a special
compartmentalised system in the stands, which leads directly to the esplanade. The
elliptical form of the stands was chosen to enable the best possible view of the games
area, while their actual design, hugging the curve of the race track, has long
been recognised as the most effective for an Olympic stadium. The comfort of the sportsmen
and women was also a prime concern for the architects, as well as those for the media, who
will find in the Stade de France the best possible working conditions.
But for the moment, the 16th Football World Cup
is the driving force behind the giant structure. And if you close your eyes, you can
already hear the clamour rising from the stadium, this clamour that will be thrilling the
whole world throughout the summer of 1998 ! Directeur de la Communication Eric de BRANCHE
Tél : (33) 01 49 46 37 25 - Fax : (33) 01 49 46 38 65
St-Etienne
THE CITY
Population : Inner city : 200,000 inh. Urban
city : 450,000 inh.
Mayor : Jean-Michel Thiollière
THE CLUB
A.S. Saint Etienne 10 French league titles 6
times French Cup winners
Saint-Etienne, the bold green
city
A city rich in skills inherited from its
industrial past, Saint-Etienne ranks today as the second largest urban conglomeration in
the Rhône-Alpes region. With its ambition to conduct extensive economic projects, the
city is banking on the World Football Cup to demonstrate its vitality and know-how.
Birthplace of the industrial era Saint-Etienne
started booming right back in the 16th century, becoming prosperous through the
manufacture of furnishing trimmings and weapons. Then, in the 19th century, the city
really began to build its industrial reputation, largely through coal-mining, and the
industrial revolution turned Saint-Etienne into one of France's leading cities. The famous
Ecole des Mines (national school of mine engineering) was founded there in
1816, and it is no coincidence that France's first railway line had a terminus in
Saint-Etienne in 1827. In the mid 19th century, the city prudently began to diversify its
activities and develop new industries. It was then that the mass-distribution specialist
Perrachon, today known as CASINO, was founded, as well as the famous
Manufrance company selling arms and cycles. Coal-mining was at its peak. With
the 20th century emerged new economic models: the leisure industry was born, and
.Saint-Etienne built its theatre, stadium and museums. Building on its past 0heritage, the
Saint-Etienne of the year 2000 is developing by adjusting to the new demands of the
present.
A successful conversion
Former capital of the arms, fashion accessory
and cycle industries, Saint-Etienne has rapidly built up a reputation for its expertise in
sub-contracting andmechanics. Today, close to 400 small and medium-size businesses,
grouped in industrial poles(including industrial automation, medical
technologies and optical engineering) make up the city's economic fabric and provide its
driving force. With top-class higher education institutions (Ecole des Mines, and colleges
for fine arts and architecture), the city is also home to 700 researchers and is a major
venue for scientific conventions.
The city of art and culture
Known in the past for the expertise of its
craftsmen, Saint-Etienne is now a lively artistic centre. A large number of shows are held
every season at the Comédie Jean Dasté and the Esplanade Opera House. The Modern Art
Museum houses the second largest public collection of French contemporary art, after
Paris. The Museum of Art and Industry is about to receive a unique collection of weapons,
while the Coal-mining Museum and the Planetarium, among others, constitute cultural
landmarks in a city that also welcomes nearly 400 authors every year at the Book Fair.
An exceptional environment to live in
But Saint-Etienne is also known for its natural
environment, and has received much acclaim for its quality of life. With 60,000 hectares
of protected green areas, the region offers a wide range of outdoor activities for nature
buffs.
SAINT-ETIENNE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE WORLD CUP
From the very outset, Saint-Etienne grasped the
importance of hosting the Football World Cup in 1998, and was quick to involve its whole
population, making the success of the event a goal for everyone.
Living the World Cup
The first symbol of this goal has been the
founding of an association entirely devoted to preparing for the big event : thanks to
SECOM (Saint-Etienne Coupe du Monde), the whole city lives and breathes the World Cup. The
countdown has already started, as evinced by three giant clocks, placed at the gates of
the city and along the highways, that are measuring the time left before Saint-Etienne
welcomes the games. At 365 days before kick-off, this is truly a countdown that
counts : this was the message in the city's press campaign, where it stressed its
determination to mobilise the entire population to ensure the success of FRANCE 98.
Image-building
Looking beyond its regional borders,
Saint-Etienne has also embarked on a billboard campaign in six French cities, with a view
to enhancing its image and restoring its reputation as a city of grandeur and excellence.
Know-how
The city is proving highly creative in the
run-up to 1998, as highlighted by the operation conducted the day before renovation work
started on the Geoffroy Guichard stadium : the old pitch was cut up and offered to the
football clubs supporters, enabling them to take home a piece of the sacred
turf. About 5 weeks before the World Cup kick-off, Saint-Etiennes citizens
will be invited to share a moving moment, with a huge show organised for the inauguration
of the new stadium.
Meanwhile, all entertainment initiatives that
are to be organised in the city in 1997 will be sporting the colours of the World Cup.
And for those who can't wait until 1998,
Saint-Etienne promises to rise to the occasion. A village set up in the downtown area is
to host a permanent celebration, with activities, meetings with well-known personalities,
and exclusive shows, while the city's neighbourhoods will dress up in the colours of the
qualifying countries, as impressive parades file down the main streets, bringing a feeling
of cheerfulness and fun to everybody's hearts.
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Sandrine JALLON Hôtel
de Ville - BP 503 - 42007 Saint-Etienne cedex Tél : (33) 4 77 42 86 70 - Fax : (33) 4 77
41 61 81
Tourist Office 3, place Roannelle - 42029 Saint
Etienne cedex 1 Tél : (33) 4 77 25 12 14 - Fax : (33) 4 77 32 71 28
THE STADIUM
The capital of football since the string of
successes of its green-clad football club in the 70s, Saint-Etienne will, more than ever,
show its love for football in 1998, when it will host the World Cup games in a newly
renovated stadium (referred to as the chaudron, or cauldron, a nickname
acquired in the seventies).
Name of stadium : GEOFFROY GUICHARD
Location : 3 km from downtown
First inaugurated : September 1931
Capacity before renovation : 42,000 places, of
which 19,000 standing
Capacity in 1998 : 36,000 seats
Renovation operations : Standing-room steps to
be replaced with seats in the north and south stands. Press stand to be converted, boxes
and private salons to be built, interior rooms of the west stand to be extended. East and
west stands to be fitted with special equipment for disabled visitors. Lighting, sound,
and score display fixtures to be brought up to standard; new videosurveillance system. New
layout for the stadium surroundings, including extended parking facilities, access road,
851 trees.
Reconstruction operations : New pitch
Date of completion : Late 1997
Inauguration of renovated stadium : May 98
Architect : Messrs BERGER et JALLON
Toulouse
THE CITY
Population : Inner city : 365,000 inh. Urban
area : 600,000 inh.
Mayor : Dominique Baudis
THE CLUB
Toulouse F.C. 1 French Cup.
Toulouse, a city with a heart
Founded on the banks of the Garonne River over
two thousand years ago, the rose-coloured city still retains its Latin character. Neither
entirely Mediterranean nor entirely oceanic, it is first and foremost a city of the
Occitan, the region of the ancient language langue d'Oc. On the
eve of the third millennium, its position as one of Southern Europe's great capitals is
evident, thanks to its many rich and varied assets.
Pink bricks and red tiles
With its subtle marriage of stone, brick and red
tile in the Capitole and Daurade quarters, its labyrinth of alleyways lined with sumptuous
mansions, the cool, refreshing atmosphere of the banks of the Canal du Midi and its
houseboats, and the romantic charm of the Garonne and Pont-Neuf embankments, Toulouse is a
city of the open air, inviting exploration on foot.
Aerospatiale, high tech and university
campuses: looking to the future.
From the pioneers of the first Latécoere
airlines, Jean Mermoz and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, to the Airbus aircraft and the Ariane
rockets, Toulouse has had an important place in Europe's aeronautical history. Through its
high profile in aeronautics, electronics, space telecommunications and the biomedical
industry, Toulouse is at the forefront of advanced technology and is a prominent research
pool with its 400 laboratories. The University of Toulouse has enjoyed a considerable
reputation ever since it was founded in 1229. As the second largest university centre in
France today, Toulouse attracts over 115,000 students each year and has become a European
standard of reference in teaching and research.
A city proud of its heritage
Toulouse is the site of unique cultural
heritage, which includes the renowned Canal du Midi, built in the 17th century and linking
the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It has recently been added to UNESCO's World Heritage
list. Museums and galleries abound, giving visitors a glorious taste of the city's local
riches.
Always looking to the future, Toulouse has also
risen to the challenge by embarking on large-scale construction projects, such as its
subway system, the Congress Centre, the Cité de l'Espace, the Modern and Contemporary Art
Centre and the Cinémathèque, among many others bearing witness to the city's dynamic
spirit.
Toulouse in the run up to the World Cup
Sixty years after hosting a Football World Cup,
Toulouse is once again to be the stage for the celebration of football in 1998. Although
the city is a more familiar venue for rugby, with its famous multiple cup-winning team,
the citizens are still firm football fans. The capital of the Midi-Pyrénées region will
certainly be doing justice to football in 1998, and visitors for the World Cup will have a
wonderful chance to experience its very special quality of life.
Organisation and hospitality
This quality of life is first and foremost based
on the way tourists are welcomed, an aspect central to the staging of the competition.
Anyone who has already visited the southern capital will be familiar with the warmth of
Toulouse hospitality.
Toulouse has already set the stage for the event
by selecting a special team of men and women to be ambassadors of the Toulouse
spirit. Discreet but omnipresent, they will be on hand to see to every visitor's
comfort. Criss-crossing the city on foot or on their bicycles, they are to be the city's
mobile hospitality squad. A central hospitality village is to act as a super-tourist
centre, and there will be satellite information sites at the city's main access points as
well as downtown. No less than 50 pagodas like this are to be set up at key
points throughout the city.
Spotlight on the Garonne Toulouse loves its
river, the subject of many a popular song, and has enhanced it by lighting the bridges and
restructuring the locks. The Garonne is truly the focus of the city, and will be even more
so during the World Cup, serving as a thoroughfare, a games area and a stage for shows
based on old traditions, as fun-lovers gather on its banks. Decked out in the colours of
the competing nations, its embankments will become a permanent fair ground offering
gastronomical and cultural specialties from the area. River shuttles will be taking
visitors to the Ile du Ramier, home to the Stadium, and further celebrations are to be
staged on the water, such as Garonna, a huge parade whose aptly-named floats
will surely inspire a great flowering of creativity and imagination.
Reviving tradition with the values of France 98
This is another challenge Toulouse has set
itself in preparation for the World Cup. Everyone will be invited to relive popular
tradition by participating in the Grand Fenetra, an event dating back to the
14th century, with traditional dancing, singing and general merriment. And then there are
the famous Toulouse Jousts, to be revived in 1998 : yet another project to
bring the sense of excitement, universality and sharing to the last Football World Cup of
the century.
CONTACTS
Director of Communication Paul-Henry CABROL
Hôtel de ville - Place du Capitole - 31030 Toulouse cedex Tel : (33) 5 61 22 21 02 - Fax
: (33) 5 61 22 21 64
World Cup Communication Sybille FORCA Tél. :
(33) 5 62 27 65 65 - Fax : (33) 5 61 22 21 64
Tourist Office Donjon du Capitole - BP 0801 -
31080 Toulouse cedex Tél : (33) 5 61 11 02 22 - Fax (33) 5 61 22 03 63
THE STADIUM
With its oval, rugby-style pitch, the Municipal
Stadium is familiar chiefly to those who regularly follow the Toulouse rugby team. But the
venue is also used by the Toulouse Football Club, which just gained its comeback in the
french first division. Built on an island between two branches of the Garonne, the
Municipal Stadium is located on an exceptional site, an island of greenery a stone's throw
from the city centre.
Name of Stadium : STADIUM
Location : Ile du Ramier, close to city centre
15 mn from airport and train station
First inaugurated : 1949
Capacity before renovation : 34,000 places, of
which 10% with reduced visibility
Capacity in 1998 : 37,000 sheltered seats with
full visibility
Renovation operations : Lighting, sound,
billboarding and videosurveillance system to be brought up to World Cup standards.
Construction operations : Existing roof to be
demolished and replaced with a metal and textile structure; pillars in the bench rows to
be eliminated so as to increase visibility. 3,500 seat dress circle to be built in the
north stand; New boxes.
Date of completion : January 1998
Architect : Cabinet FERRET, principal architect
Cabinet Cardete et Huet, associated architects