We know the name of the future Millavois sports complex in South Aveyron

A pioneer of women's sport, Alice Milliat (1884-1957) campaigned at the beginning of the 20th century for women to be able to participate in the Olympic Games. Reproduction

Le complexe sportif doit ouvrir ses portes “idéalement” dans le courant du mois de juin. Repro

Wednesday evening in session, the Millau Grands Causses community council voted favorably on the name “Sud-Aveyron Alice Milliat Sports Complex”. 

A few weeks before the official opening of the Millavois sports complex, hoped for "ideally" in June 2024, the elected representatives of the community council meeting yesterday in a meeting decided to give it a name.

Knowing, it's a prerequisite, that"the name of a place or public facility must respect the principle of neutrality of the public service which "is opposed to the affixing of signs on public buildings symbolizing the claim of & rsquo;religious or philosophical political opinions".

"In this context, the community of communes wishes to promote, through its facilities, personalities who have marked History, and in this case precise, the History of sport." After deliberation, the community council therefore chose – unanimously – the name of this future equipment which will bear the name of Alice Milliat. "Interesting wink in this  Olympic year", poses President Emmanuelle Gazel who pleads here "for more diversity".     

Fight for the recognition of women's sport

Born in Nantes to grocer parents, Alice Milliat (1884-1957) was a French swimmer, hockey player and rower. Convinced by the inclusion of women in the world of sport, she campaigned and created the Federation of Women's Sports Societies of France in reaction to the refusal of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to   #39;include women's athletics events during the Olympic Games. 

Recognized as one of the greatest activists in the fight for the recognition of women's sport at the international level, she organized women's competitions and created the first international women's gathering in Monte-Carlo in 1921.

In 1922, she launched the first edition of the Women's World Games in Paris which continued until 1928, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally accepted ;organize women's competitions after the resignation of Pierre Coubertin. The father of the Olympics who believed that "the true Olympic hero is the individual adult male"… 

One hundred years after her feats of arms, Alice Milliat, who died in complete anonymity, emerges from the shadows. Like Millau, several towns, including Nantes, his birthplace, have given his name to sports facilities. In March 2021, the Maison du sport français, which houses the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee, inaugurated its statue which faces that of Pierre Coubertin… 

More recently, his name was given to the esplanade in front of the brand new Arena located Porte de la Chapelle in Paris which will host the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events of the Olympic Games, as well as those of para-badminton and para-weightlifting of the Paralympic Games.

Louis-Pierre Got climbing room

Initial name of the old municipal swimming pool, Roger-Julian – former deputy to the City – will give his name to the 50-meter outdoor pool.

As for the artificial climbing room, the name of Louis-Pierre Got, born in 1909 and died in 1988, was also proposed and voted on unanimously . Master glove maker in his workshop on rue Gambetta in Millau, in 1932 he created the caving section of the ’Alpina" association. 

In 1977, he also invented the term “country trails", representing the approximately 1,500 km of trails marked out by the association’ . A founding member of the Fédération des Grands Causses, he is strongly involved in the protection of the fauna and flora of the Aveyron region. A tireless entertainer, Pierre Got has been involved all his life in popular sporting activities, in the heart of nature.