Paris 2024 Olympic Games: skateboarding, 3×3 basketball, breakdancing, windfoil… The new Olympic disciplines are being practiced in Montpellier

Partout dans la ville, les associations organisent des cours et stages pour tous les publics. Florent Beauduin

Le drapeau aux cinq anneaux flotte désormais sur certaines épreuves inédites. Que ce soit pour débuter ou pour se perfectionner, Montpellier et ses alentours offrent de nombreuses possibilités.

From Tokyo to Paris. Validated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), new disciplines have been included in the Olympic Games for only four years ; others are making their first appearance these days.

We are talking about skateboarding, BMX freestyle, three-person basketball, breaking, surfing, kitefoil, windfoil and sport climbing. On land or at sea, the Metropolis allows you to discover or improve your skills in these sports and cultural activities thanks to the clubs that invest in the territory, from the heart of the city to the Mediterranean.

In the street and the skatepark

“Montpellier has some very good skateparks.” Florent Beauduin is the coordinator of the Sk8therapy association. Having been on a board since his youth, he says that "the best thing is to start on flat ground, wear protection and have a facilitator to guide you." He trains students "in the free and diverse culture of skateboarding. We adapt to demand, including those who want to compete."

Like skateboarding, BMX freestyle has only been an Olympic event since Tokyo 2020. Introduced alongside BMX racing races, the event evaluates the tricks performed by riders. "It's a very open discipline because everyone can do it bike”, says Thomas Raymond, president of the Attitude association. Like Florent, he leads activities for all ages at the Grammont skatepark, the largest in Europe.

Beyond the beaches

“The beaches of La Grande-Motte and Palavas are very interesting for surfing.” We are moving to the coast of La Grande-Motte with Christophe Roquefere, president of the SudRiding club. “You can surf all year round. the year." In addition to shortboard, which has been an Olympic sport since 2020, it offers longboard and stand-up paddle lessons which "could easily be included in the 2028 Olympic Games".

The wing or “foil” under the board allows you to take off earlier. Tramontana Windsurf

Two other board sports are joining the competition this year. By adding a  profiled wing or  "hydrofoil" under the board, kitefoil and windfoil are variants of kitesurfing and windsurfing that can be experienced all along the coast. "There is a great tradition in the region because we have a lot of wind." For Doris Wetzel, founder of the Monki Kitesurf school in Palavas-les-Flots, the most important thing is to not be afraid and to respect natural spaces.

Manager of the Tramontana Windsurf school, Thierry Hoornaert welcomes the evolution of the sport: “the foil is more impressive. It attracts a younger audience." A discipline "easy to switch to from classic windsurfing" in which "you can reach a good level after four or five sessions".

The culture of the neighborhoods

"It hits hard." Khaled Baki, president of the Montpellier basket Mosson club, welcomes the growing popularity of three-man basketball and its accessibility: “you just need a ball and some friends.” Very closely linked to neighborhoods and self-management, it is a sport that is "very educational because you play in all positions" and with "a lot of freedom but also supervision in terms of respect".

Lahouari Maachou is one of the figures who developed breaking in Montpellier. Nassir Mokhtari – nassir mokhtari

The same principle applies to breaking, where “everyone finds something”, according to Lahouari Maachou, head of Montpellier Breaking Métropole. “Breakfast” comes from the street, from hip-hop culture. We don't lose the north.” He wants to open more venues to develop a scene where “ “most of the best dancers come from Montpellier”“and where “battles” transform a fighting situation into something positive”. Breaking becomes Olympic in Paris, while 3×3 basketball has appeared in Tokyo.

From gyms to cliffs

In addition to the steep cliffs near the city, climbing gyms are multiplying there.“Indoor climbing is more accessible than outdoor climbing, explains Thomas, an instructor at Escal’OSud, but when properly supervised, it is suitable for everyone.” He assures that “everyone knows each other in the microcosm of climbers", an advantage for getting started in a field where "inclusivity and respect for ’environment" must prevail. "It is up to clubs and gyms to raise awareness about climbing", he concludes.

At the risk that all these disciplines will become more expensive with the notoriety brought by the Olympic Games, the interviewees recommend the second-hand market to benefit from equipment at a more affordable price. They also claim a "peer-to-peer" teaching based on "solidarity, respect, security and non-elitism".

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