Saint-Louis Day in Sète: the city's most secret mystery has been solved

L’affiche officielle a été dévoilée jeudi en fin de matinée dans le parc du Château d’eau. MIDI LIBRE – PHILIPPE MALRIC

La Ville a dévoilé, jeudi 31 juillet, la très attendue affiche officielle de la Saint-Louis ainsi que les invités d’honneur.

It's an even more closely guarded secret than the Fort Knox code or the identity of the last Olympic torchbearer. The City of Sète ended the suspense on Thursday July 31 in the park of the Château d'eau by unveiling the highly anticipated official poster for the 280th Saint-Louis (August 22-27) as well as the identity of the guests of honor.

A mix of sport and culture

Madeleine Sergio, who had never had this honor, was therefore tasked with taking up the challenge with this very beautiful poster, nicely following that of Vivi Navarro last year. And for the guests of honor, there will be two of them with Delphine Le Sausse and Benjamin Biolay. “Josting is a sporting tradition and a culture, explained Mayor François Commeinhes with the approval of the heads of the jousting societies present and the president of the jousting coordination. And in this Olympic year, we decided to mix the two with a sportswoman, Delphine Le Sausse, sixteen times world champion of water skiing, and an artist, Benjamin Biolay who has a lot of attachment to Sète as shown by the cover and the name of his latest album.

Josting is the DNA of our city

Whether it's the artist, the sportswoman or the singer, all three said "honored" to participate in the height of the Sète summer with its many jousting tournaments between the opening on Thursday and the Grand Prix on Monday. Because if there are events, Saint-Louis is, above all, the jousting festival. Their celebration. "It's the DNA of our city", recalled Eliane Sarda, the elected official in charge of this very important part of local life.

Dedicated to Christine Sidobre

Particularly moved, the mayor of Sète, François Commeinhes, also wanted to dedicate this 280th edition of the Saint-Louis to Christine Sidobre, who recently passed away. “If we are there Today, it is thanks to her, he said, paying tribute to his protocol officer, who has accompanied me during these last 23 years.

It was then Cédric Licciardi, municipal councillor in charge of festivities and right-hand man of Mrs Sarda on this issue, who outlined all the events scheduled on the agenda outside the jousting tournaments, with of course the parade and the various shows offered in particular at the town hall square. “We want a popular festival that is aimed at all ages in a spirit of conviviality and sharing”, recalled the mayor.

Read also: Saint-Louis Festival in Sète: square balls, concerts… discover the programme of events outside the jousts

The joust coordination is ready

"We are ready, announced Francis Le Bail, the president of the joust coordination who oversees the organization of all the tournaments of this crucial week. We are impatiently waiting for this Saint-Louis. We will have beautiful weather. When I see the weather we had in Paris for the opening of the Olympic Games, I might as well stay in Sète and enjoy the party". The appointment is made.

I subscribe to read the rest