The Carnival of the Five Continents continues its festivities from Place Masséna to the Promenade des Anglais until March 6. Denis Zanon, Director of the Nice Tourist Office, is one of the key figures in implementing the many carnival events.
According to everyone, from the public to behind the scenes, the arrival of this mountain man, who was the Director of the Courchevel Tourist Office, to the Mediterranean coast has brought a new dynamic to the largest and oldest event on the French Riviera.
Calmly, Denis Zanon spoke to Nice Premium just a few hours before the official launch of the 2013 festivities.
And for more information on the Nice Carnival: https://www.nicecarnaval.com
Nice Premium: Denis Zanon, it’s the big day! Ready for this Carnival of the Five Continents?
Denis Zanon: Fully ready! All teams are in place, the floats and equipment, the routes checked, the weather is quite favorable for the first weekend, so yes, ready to handle the unforeseen!
NP: Any new features for this 2013 edition?
DZ: Quite few, given the constraints imposed by the various construction sites (greenway, Sulzer parking), but, while the parades turn in the opposite direction compared to last year for better overall photo opportunities, the general configuration is the same. However, we have implemented online ticketing, the e-ticket, which is very successful, and for the program, we have created a mass run, the “Rock ‘n’ Roll 10 Miles of the Carnival”, a giant Zumba class combined with the carnival swim on Sunday the 17th, and two charity operations for the benefit of the children of the Lenval Foundation.
NP: An honorary guest with the Francophonie and its upcoming Games to be held in September in Nice?
DZ: Every year, a country is the guest of honor, this year it’s the Francophonie as a whole, in anticipation of the Games of course… A float is dedicated to it.
NP: This year, sport rhymes with Carnival with the Rock ‘n’ Roll 10 Miles?
And, from a general perspective, whether from the public side or behind the scenes, the arrival of this mountain man, who was the Director of the Courchevel Tourist Office, to the Mediterranean coast has brought a new dynamic to this popular Nice festival that continues to enjoy ever-growing success.
DZ: Yes, a new feature for this first Sunday. A mass race gathering 2,500 runners including 30% foreigners, an unusual distance to encourage Anglo-Saxon runners to practice both their passion and take part in the Nice Carnival to maximize attendance by foreign customers. The results of this “zero” edition are encouraging, the concept works.
NP: Cuisine and Carnival are also a good mix this Sunday in the old town?
DZ: We have special ties with the city of Teolo located near Venice, in the Colli Euganei park, the Abano terms. They organize a festival around stockfish every year, and we are holding a tasting for the public Sunday evening at the Lu Fran Calin restaurant, Place Rossetti, before going to participate with Niçois chefs in their festival in Italy, to highlight the Nice way of this recipe.
NP: You attend all the battles of flowers and all the parades. What is your role during the events?
DZ: A role of supervision and arbitration mainly, representation, welcoming, a bit multitasking, but once everything is in place, everyone knows their role and it’s mostly about being ready to manage the unexpected… and that it doesn’t show from the stands!!
NP: Once the Carnival is over, Denis Zanon will be a happy Director of the Tourist Office if…?
DZ: If we maintain our steady growth for the past 4 years, if the public and the Niçois are happy with their carnival, and if we have managed to create some memories in the minds of the little ones present throughout these 20 days…
