Popular France Sport

France has a wide range of sports on offer, both for the spectator and the participant. It is not difficult to get tickets to domestic and international football and rugby matches, while the biggest event of all, the Tour de France, is free. And if you are interested in expending some energy yourself, you will find a whole host of activities and active France tourism available. If you plan Paris vacation, this information is useful to you: Paris hotels are nice and comfortable, but you probably want to keep fit. Besides, it is general France information, which will expand your knowledge about the country you travel to.

Sports
More than any of the cultural jamborees, it is sporting events that really excite the French – cycling, football, tennis and skiing. At the local level, the gentle sobriety of boules is the most obvious manifestation of sporting life.

Popular France Sport: Cycling

French towns and cities are actively promoting the use of bicycles. There are some 28,000km (17,500 miles) of marked cycling paths throughout the country. Bicycles can be hired from many local tourist offices, and French Railways (SNCF) also offers bicycles for hire at some 30 stations. There is an extensive network of pistes cyclables (cycling paths) along the Atlantic coast, all the way down to the Spanish border.

The sport the French are truly mad about is cycling: first and foremost in their sporting calendar is the Tour de France race in July. It was, after all, in Paris’s Palais Royale gardens in 1791 that the precursor of the modern bicycle, the celerifière , was presented, and seventy years later the Parisian father-and-son team of Pierre and Ernest Michaux constructed the velocipede (hence the modern French term velo for bicycle), the first really efficient bicycle. The French can also legitimately claim the sport of cycle racing as their own, with the first event, a 1200-metre sprint, held in Paris’s Parc St-Cloud in 1868 — sadly for national pride, however, the first champion was an Englishman.

That most French of sporting events, and the world’s premier cycling race, the Tour de France, was inaugurated in 1903. Covering 4000-odd-kilometres, the 25-stage three-week course changes every year but some truly arduous mountain stages and some time trials are always part of the action, and sometimes foreign countries are included in the itinerary (Britain and Ireland, among others, have hosted stages). An aggregate of each rider’s times is made daily, the overall leader wearing the coveted yellow jersey ( maillot jaune ). Huge crowds turn out to cheer on the cyclists at the finishing line of the ultimate stage on the Champs-Élysees in late July when the French president himself presents the jersey to the overall winner — however, the crowds have been waiting for a French cyclist to win it since Bernard Hinault ‘s victory in 1985.

Over the last couple of years the event has been rocked by drug scandals, beginning in 1998 when evidence of systematic doping within the cycling teams came to light. Nicholas Chaine, of the Credit Lyonnais bank, which sponsored the race supplied this unusually honest quotable quote: “Let’s not be hypocrites. You just don’t do that on fizzy mineral water and salads.” These scandals have cast a shadow over the American rider Lance Armstrong ‘s monumental achievement of fighting to overcome cancer and later going on to win the race in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Other classic long-distance bike races include the 600-kilometre Bordeaux–Paris, the world’s longest single stage race, first held in 1891; the Paris–Roubaix, instigated in 1896, which is reputed to be the most exacting one-day race in the world; the Paris–Brussels held since 1893; and the rugged six-day Paris—Nice, France, event, covering over 1100km. The Grand Prix des Nations, always held somewhere in France, with locations changing every year, is the world’s foremost time trial ; the Palais Omnisport de Bercy in Paris holds other time trials and cycling events.

Popular France Sport: Football

In France, as in most countries, football is the number-one team sport, and French football at present is riding the crest of a wave. Having won the World Cup for the first time in 1998 in front of their home crowd, in 2000 the French national team became the first ever side to add a European Championships title to the world crown.

Up until 1998, most of France’s football successes had come off the pitch through innovators such as Jules Rimet, who created the World Cup in 1930, and Henri Delauney, who conceived the European Championships thirty years later. It was not until 1984, when Michel Platini ‘s cavalier side lifted the European Championships cup, that the French were able to translate their influence in the corridors of power onto the pitch.

It was only fitting, therefore, that Platini was chosen as president of his country’s bid to host the World Cup for the second time in 1998. Having won the right to stage it, the French began the tournament slowly and struggled to convince a traditionally ambivalent French public of their championship potential. But this all changed after close shaves against Paraguay in the second round, Italy in the quarter finals and Croatia in the semis set up a dream final against Brazil, the pre-tournament favorites and defending champions. In the event the final itself was an anti-climax, with two goals by Zinedine Zidane, France’s best player, and a late effort by Emmanuel Petit, being enough to overturn a lackluster Brazil, whose morale was shattered by the breakdown of their talisman Ronaldo before the game. However, the result was all that mattered to the French, and a million people piled onto the streets of Paris for the biggest street party since the end of World War II.

France’s success in the World Cup did not end on the pitch. Of the 32 sides that made it to the finals, France’s was the most diverse ethnically, with half of the squad’s 22 players of foreign extraction. For the first time, the national team really reflected the racial diversity of modern French society. Before the tournament Jean-Marie Le Pen ‘s right-wing Front National party had called for a ban on players of foreign extraction playing for France, but the heroics of Zidane, Marcel Desailly and Lillian Thuram, among others, and the sight of black, white and beurs embracing in the streets in celebration of victory, caused him to backtrack sharply. Furthermore, the French president, Jacques Chirac, chose his Bastille Day conference, two days after the French triumph, as a political platform to denounce the Front National’s policies of racial discrimination and to praise France’s “tricolor and multi-color” World Cup win.

Back on the pitch, the only small cloud hanging over the French team was the accusation by some that they had won the World Cup only because they were playing at home: in the 2000 European Championships they set out to prove those critics wrong. This they did in style, adding pace and flair in the form of young strikers such as Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka to the rock-solid defense and combative midfield – plus the genius of Zidane – that had won France the World Cup. Though they rode their luck in the final, needing an injury time equalizer by Sylvain Wiltord and a golden goal winner by Davide Trezeguet to beat Italy, the French richly deserved their victory.

The success of the international side has meant that French players are hugely in demand at Europe’s richest clubs, and consequently most of the international squad play their club football outside France, mainly in England, Italy and Spain. French coaching acumen is also a valuable commodity abroad, especially in England, where Arsène Wenger in particular has enjoyed outstanding success.

The drain of talent out of France does not seem to have harmed the domestic game, however. Average attendances are on the rise, almost all clubs now have sound financial backing, and the biggest clubs, such as AS Monaco, Marseille and Paris St-Germain (PSG), have all done well in European competition in recent years. More importantly, the infrastructure of French football has never been in better shape. France’s main club grounds underwent major reconstruction for the World Cup – some for the first time in sixty years – and the magnificent Stade de France was built on the outskirts of Paris to host the final. In addition, the French football federation has invested heavily in a national football institute for outstanding young players, based in Clairefontaine, near Paris, which is the envy of the football world and which looks set to maintain France’s position at the top table of the world game for many years to come.

Popular France Sport: Rugby

Although confined mainly to the southwest of the country, the sport that arouses most passion in France is rugby. The French have a rich rugby heritage and are renowned throughout the world for the style and spirit of adventure with which they play the game. Their high-risk strategies make the French a fascinating side to watch, capable of the sublime – when everything clicks – and the abject, but rarely anything in between. French rugby’s greatest moment to date came in the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup, when they stunned the world by trouncing favorites New Zealand with an exhilarating display of attacking rugby. Rather predictably, however, they blew cold in the final, putting up feeble resistance against an Australian side that never had to rouse itself out of second gear.

More staple international fare is provided by the Six Nations tournament – the other five nations being England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy – which takes place every year between February and April. Matches are played alternately at home and away. Over the past few years, France has consistently challenged for the title, and in 1997 and 1998 it achieved the considerable feat of winning back-to-back Grand Slams – “Grand Slam” being the term used to describe a clean sweep of victories over the other nations.

Domestically, the French clubs have ridden out rugby’s occasionally fraught transition from amateur to professional status and look to be in good shape. Though France has lost some of its stars to predatory English clubs, unlike in football the majority of the national side still plays in France. Sides to watch for are Toulouse and Brive (past winners of the European Heineken Cup), Dax and Agen, and the Basque teams of Bayonne and Biarritz, which still have their reputation as keepers of the game’s soul.

Waterspouts

France has over 3000km (1880 miles) of coastline, ranging from the rugged English Channel and Atlantic coasts in the north and west to the sunny shores of the French Riviera ( Côte d’Azur ) along the Mediterranean in the south. All types of water sports are available, although the warm climate of the Mediterranean provides obvious advantages, with swimming in the sea possible practically all year round. Diving and snorkeling are popular in Porquerolles and Corsica. The colder English Channel and Atlantic waters are popular with sailing enthusiasts, and Biarritz is renowned for good surfing. The Côte d’Azur offers the possibility of sailing to Corsica.
Canal cruises

France is criss-crossed by some 8500km (5313 miles) of canals and rivers, and houseboats can be rented easily. Popular itineraries include the Lorient–Redon route (along the former route of the Brittany invasions); Marne–Strasbourg (through the vineyards of Champagne to the Alsace-Lorraine canals); the Burgundy Canal (a popular wine route); and Bordeaux–Sète (a 500km/313 mile-journey from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean along the Canal du Midi). Boats can be rented from numerous private operators who can also arrange the necessary permits. Most vessels sleep between 2 to 12 people. The return journey is usually via the same route; one-way trips are possible but involve extra costs.
Fishing

Good fishing regions include Brittany (salmon and trout), Franche-Comté (which has many lakes), Languedoc-Roussillon (mountain fishing), and Midi-Pyrénées (famous for the fario trout). Trips with local fishermen are possible along the Atlantic coast. Popular catches include crayfish, lobster, scallops and, at low tide, crabs, shrimps and mussels. Deep-sea-fishing trips are widely available on the Côte d’Azur. Permits for river fishing can be obtained from local city halls.

Popular France Sport: Skiing The French Alps offer excellent skiing with some of the world’s best known resorts. There are over 480km (300 miles) of ski pistes , over 150 ski lifts, innumerable ski France schools and quality resort facilities. All the major resorts offer skiing package holidays. The season runs from early December to the end of April. The height of the season is during February and March, which is reflected in the higher prices.

It can be an expensive sport to practice independently, however, and the best deals are often to be had from package operators. These can be arranged in France or before you leave (most travel agents sell all-in packages). In France, the umbrella organization to contact is the Federation Française de Ski, 50 rue des Marquisats, 74000 Annecy (tel 04.50.51.40.34, fax 04.50.51.75.90, www.ffs.fr ).

The best skiing is generally to be had in the Alps. The higher the resort the longer the season, and the fewer the anxieties you’ll have about there being enough snow. These resorts are almost all modern, with the very latest in lift technology. They’re terrific for full-time skiing, but they lack the cachet, charm or the nightlife of the older resorts such as Megève and Courchevel. The foothills of the Alps in Provence have the same mix of old and new on a smaller scale. The clientele are Riviera residents and prices are not cheap, though at least you can nip down to the coast for a quick swim when you’re bored with snow. The Pyrenees are a friendlier range of mountains, less developed (though that can be a drawback if you want to get in as many different runs as possible per day) and warmer, which means more problems with the snow.

Popular France Sport: Cross-country Skiing ( ski de fond ) is being promoted hard, especially in the smaller ranges of the Jura and Massif Central. It’s easier on the joints, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s any less athletic a sport. For the really experienced and fit, though, it can be a good means of transport, using snowbound GR routes to discover villages still relatively uncommercialized. Several independent operators organize ski-mountaineering courses in the French mountains.

 
Popular France Sport: Hiking.

There are thousands of miles of carefully marked trails in France. These are known as Sentiers de Grande Randonnée , and are generally marked on maps as well as being recognizable by a red and white logo marked GR . The hiking routes are complemented by an extensive network of gîtes and mountain refuges providing inexpensive but comfortable accommodation. A Guide des Gîtes de France is available from bookshops.

Popular France Sport: Walking

Long-distance walkers are well served in France by a network of over 30,000km of long-distance marked footpaths, known as sentiers de grande randonnee or, more commonly, simply as GRs. They’re fully signposted and equipped with campsites and rest huts along the way. Some are real marathons, like the GR5 from the coast of Holland to Nice, the trans-Pyrenean GR10 or the Grande Traversee des Alpes (the GRX). The Chemin de St-Jacques – GR65 – follows the ancient pilgrim route from Le Puy in the Auvergne to the Spanish border above St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and on to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela, while GR3 traces the Loire from source to sea. There are many more.

Each path is described in a Top guide (available in Britain from Stanfords), which gives a detailed account of the route (in French), including maps, campsites, refuge huts, sources of provisions, etc. In addition, many tourist offices can provide guides to their local footpaths, especially in popular hiking areas, where they often share premises with professional mountain guides and hike leaders. The latter organize climbing and walking expeditions for all levels of experience.

Top guides are produced by the principal French walkers’ organization, the Federation Française de la Randonnee Pedestre, 14 rue Riquet, 75019 Paris (tel 01.44.89.93.93, fax 01.40.35.85.67). The main climbing organization is the Club Alpin Français, 24 ave de Laumière, 75019 Paris (tel 01.53.72.87.00, fax 01.42.03.55.60, www.clubalpin.com ). In the Pyrenees, CIMES offers similar services and has its own network of refuges. Contact CIMES-Pyrenees 1, rue Maye-Lane, BP 2, 65420 Ibos (tel 05.62.90.09.92, fax 05.62.90.67.61, www.cimes-pyrenees.com ).

In Corsica, you can find out details about rambling and climbing from the Parc Naturel Regional de la Corse, 2 rue Major Lambroschini, off Cours Napoleon in Ajaccio (tel 04.95.51.79.10, fax 95.21.88.17).

Traditional Sports:

Boules
In every town or village square, particularly in the south, you’ll see the older generation playing boules or petanque. It is unlikely that you come across it during your Paris weekend, and if you are interested to find these traditional features, think about some kind of cruise, France.

The principle is the same as British bowls but the terrain is always rough (never grass) and the area much smaller. The metal ball is usually thrown upwards from a distance of about 10m, to land and skid towards the wooden marker ( cochonnet ). It’s very male-dominated, and socially the equivalent of darts or perhaps pool: there are cafe or village teams and endless championships.

Pelota
In the Basque country, the main draw for crowds is the national ball game of pelota, which is like a lethally (sometimes literally) fast variety of team squash played in a walled court with a ball of solid wood and wicker slings strapped to the players’ arms.

Bullfighting
In and around the Camargue, meanwhile, the number-one sport is bullfighting. Though not to everyone’s taste, it is at least a considerably less gruesome variety than that practiced by the Spanish – usually bloodless and involving variations on the theme of removing cockades from the base of the bull’s horns. It’s generally the “fighters”, rather than the bulls, which get hurt. The big event of the year is the Whitsun Feria de Pentecôte in Nîmes.