Meetings on the History and Heritage of Sport at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis

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On November 24, 25, and 26, 2011, the Meetings and Reflections around the History and Heritage of Sport will take place, organized by the Faculty of Sports Sciences (STAPS) of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, with the Delegation of Heritage of the City of Nice and the support of the PACA Region, the General Council 06, the City of Antibes, and the association We Are Football.

sport-azur.jpg The French Riviera holds an essential place in the history of French and international sport. Introduced primarily by winter tourists at the end of the 19th century, sport quickly developed there thanks to the mild climate and the variety of a territory situated between sea and mountains.

The future establishment of the National Sport Museum in Nice provides an opportunity to showcase the sports heritage of the Riviera, embodied in institutions, clubs, places, and objects, but also in events and legendary champions.

Between memory and history, these meetings, open to all, propose to share memories and reflections on this rich past.

Nice Premium met with Yvan Gastaut, a senior lecturer in contemporary history at the University of Nice, a specialist in sports history, and a member of the Orientation Council of the National Sports Museum, who is the initiator and organizer of this conference.

Nice Premium: why this initiative? And why in Nice?

Yvan Gastaut: The event aims to highlight the richness of Nice’s heritage by showcasing local archives.

These three days of meetings and reflection are a prefiguration of the establishment of the National Sports Museum within the “Grand Stade” project and in the context of the label ‘Nice, European City of Sport’ for the year 2011.

Nice Premium: Why this deliberately local character for a theme with a strong national, even international vocation?

Yvan Gastaut: “What is commonly referred to as “Riviera sport” encompasses a geographical area including the city of Nice, the Alpes-Maritimes department (including the hinterland) as well as the Principality of Monaco.

This whole makes sense from a strictly sporting point of view: whether engaged in competitions (high level or not) or in leisure, exercise, outdoor or nature activities, the horizon of many practitioners is limited to the departmental level. Moreover, for more accomplished athletes and clubs reaching national or international elite, local anchoring and influence remain important issues that should be recalled and studied.

In this framework, the famous “Riviera derbies” in various disciplines offer exceptional moments of intensity. Additionally, from the perspective of the public, spectators and supporters, the short geographical distance between different venues of more or less major events has made it possible to offer quality spectacles to Riviera residents or those who sometimes come from far away to attend major competitions.

Nice Premium: What is the message you wish to convey? Both sporty and cultural?

Yvan Gastaut: The ambition of these days is to reflect on what “makes heritage” in terms of Riviera sport. This relationship to the past, between historical rigor and sensitive memory marked by emotion and memories, deserves to be identified, studied, valued, or revalued. For there is no doubt that sport is an essential component of Riviera heritage, just like other forms of cultural expression. It is embodied in places, competitions, stars, supporters, institutions, clubs, events, techniques, newspapers, or works that have largely structured the imagination of several generations.
Sports activities have also shaped multiple identities, be it those of the city of Nice, Cannes, or Antibes, or the unique one of the Principality of Monaco. Beyond cities and agglomerations, Riviera sport is also practiced by neighborhoods, professions, social or ethnic categories, without forgetting the importance of gender. While it is clear that major competitions and events attracting a passionate public deserve to be mentioned, we must not overlook less media-covered sports and their practitioners.

Nice Premium: How will the work be conducted?

Yvan Gastaut: The principle of these days is to bring together researchers, archivists, teachers alongside public and private decision-makers, leaders, and field actors (athletes, players, referees, educators…) from past or present Riviera sports life. In front of an audience as broad as possible composed of students and people interested in the theme, different round tables will analyze the richness and diversity of Riviera sports heritage, without claiming exhaustiveness.

Nice Premium: And the presentations by the speakers?

Yvan Gastaut: Each speaker will discuss one of these “places of memory” by presenting its history, its possible changes in the landscape, but also in the imagination it evokes, assessing its importance.

In the presence of representatives from the National Sports Museum, the aim is to highlight the scientific, social, and civic interest of such patrimonialization, pointing out scattered publications, but especially the archives or documents that could be used for future enhancement projects in forms yet to be determined, such as an exhibition or a scientific study.

Moderators, specialists in sports history, accompanied by great witnesses, will structure and fuel the debates.

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