Feria de Béziers 2024, Olivier Margé assures: “Not having covered the track is my only regret”

Olivier Margé satisfait d’avoir rempli les arènes lors de la corrida d’ouverture. Midi Libre – MELISSA ALCOLEA

The director of the Béziers arenas takes stock of the Feria and responds to the controversial topics on the cancellation of Friday's bullfight and the indulgence of the bull of Margé.

Are you satisfied with the attendance ?

This Feria is marked by good times and disappointments but the positive prevails. The Béziers Feria attracts people because we have exceeded one million visitors and attendance in the arenas is increasing. We had 11,000 spectators for the opening bullfight and it is a satisfaction to have finally filled these arenas. The attendance is increasing at each show and the choice of a bullfight on horseback earned me criticism but, in the end, we gathered 8,000 spectators.

What do you say to the criticism of Friday's cancellation ?

The morning weather forecast was not as threatening and it is obviously my regret not to have covered the track. In hindsight, I will do differently because it would have given us a chance to do this bullfight. But, perhaps it would not have changed things because the track and the callejon were waterlogged. I am the first to suffer the consequences because the public will not be harmed. We will publish this week the terms for everyone to be reimbursed.

The 2024 artistic assessment is mixed…

The weather had a big impact on the outcome of the Feria with this cancelled bullfight and, without the strong wind at the closing, we would have still had a great bullfight in Margé. The Jandillas were also below their standards but several bullfighters gave remarkable performances and I also remember the quality of the cattle in the two novilladas without picador and the piquée. 2023 was an exceptional vintage. This year is more mixed. We will get to work immediately to offer a great feria in 2025.

The pardon of the bull from Margé created a controversy, right ?

I acknowledged that we insisted on pardoning this bull. Neptune was exceptional for our ganaderia and he was the last of a line. He was important to preserve this remarkable genetics for its future. People certainly did not know it and turned against us. But we absolutely wanted to keep him when we saw his extraordinary qualities. He should become a great stallion.

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