France will host the first « Olympic » Championships

Paris, Monday, March 27th, 2017 – The press conference of the ISA World Surfing Games 2017, the world surfing Championships (May 20-28 in Biarritz, ) was held today at the French Olympic and Sports National Committee headquarters in Paris in the presence of Denis Masseglia, president of the CNOSF, Jean-Luc Arassus, president of the French Surfing Federation, Michel Veunac, mayor of Biarritz, Jean-Philippe Gatien, sports director of Paris- 2024 Bid Committee, Michel Plateau, National Technical Director at the French Surfing Federation and Vincent Duvignac, French and European surfing champion and former French surfing team captain.

From left to right : Denis Masseglia, Jean-Philippe Gatien, Jean-Luc Arassus, Michel Veunac

DOWNLOAD HERE : HD PICTURES | TV FOOTAGE | OFFICIAL CLIP | POSTER | PRESS KIT

The 2017 ISA World Surfing Games will be held in France from May 20 to 28. The French Surfing Federation today presented the event that will gather more than 40 nations and about 300000 spectators in Biarritz.

Denis Masseglia reminded « the great ambition of France embodied by the organization of 5 world championships this year on the territory, the Surfing Champs being the second event in 2017 after the hand ball. ”The president of the French Olympic Committee also announced that « France Televisions group would be the official broadcaster of the event and would be producing a daily highlight of the event during the entire competition on its national channel France O.”

« A key challenge » Jean-Luc Arassus insisted on the « honnor of joining the olympic family ». For the president of the French Surfing Federation « a new area has started for surfing and these World Championships are the first event of this strategic period.” “Even if surfing is not part of the 2024 Olympic programme yet, it means a lot for Paris 2024 bid to show the world and especially Los Angeles, that France is able to organize great World Surfing Games at home. The ISA World Surfing Games will be a key challenge in terms of notoriety and media exposure for the sport, but also in terms of licensees for our federation (80 000 people today)”.

Michel Veunac explained that « Biarritz celebrates this year the 60th anniversary of surfing, a sport which is part of Biarritz DNA. » “Surfing is generating an important economy for the city and inspiring a refreshing and authentic way of life that contributed in modernizing Biarritz” added the mayor of Biarritz.

Jean-Philippe Gatien confirmed “Paris 2024 Bid Committee’s total support to the event” and their will to “mobilize the French citizens through international events such as the ISA World Surfing Championships”.

Jeremy Flores & Joan Duru confirmed On the sports side, Michel Plateau, the French Federation Technical Director, insisted on “the exceptional arena provided by Biarritz Grande Plage for both surfers and spectators”. “There will be 2 individual world champion titles (men and women), a title for the best team and the winner of the tag team”. Finally, Plateau announced the presence of Jeremy Flores and Joan Duru, both part of the WSL elite tour, in the French team for the event. On the women side, Johanne Defay and Pauline Ado have given their Federation an agreement to compete even if the professional schedule is clearly tight for women.”

Jeremy Flores confirmed his presence in the French team through a video message recorded a few days ago in . The French surfing star recognized to “be very excited to put the French jersey on soon and feel again this unique atmosphere and Olympic spirit he loves so much”. The Frenchman also announced his “strong determination to win at home”.

Share unique emotions

In conclusion of the presentation, the French and European Champion, Vincent Duvignac expressed his « true happiness to be an ambassador for the sport”. And former French team Captain to add : “Being part of the French team is sharing respect, friendship and unique emotions for a surfer ». Vincent Duvignac featured on the event poster

About the ISA World Surfing Games These are the world championships of surfing nations, which have been organized by the ISA since 1964. The World Surfing Championships from 1964 to 1986, they were called the World Surfing Titles in 1988, the World Surfing Championships again from 1990 to 1992, the World Amateur Titles in 1994, and the World Surfing Games since 1996. They were biennial at first, and have been annual since 2008. Until 2010, the ISA World Surfing Games included other related disciplines such as , and , as well as the junior category (until 2003). The ISA World Surfing Games only include surfing in shortboarding. They are considered to be the Olympic Games of surfing. The gold, silver, bronze and copper medals are awarded; the athletes compete for the honor of representing their country and national colors. The athletes – four men and two women – are selected by their countries. This format is reminiscent of tennis’s Davis Cup. Peru is the official world champion. France finished 4th last time round in 2016, contested in Costa Rica.

About the ISA The International Surfing Association (ISA) is the only one recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the global administration authority for surfing. Established in 1964 as the International Surfing Federation (ISF), it was renamed the ISA in 1976. It has organized the surfing world championships since 1964. The ISA is the worldwide governing authority for surfing and all of its disciplines, including bodyboarding, kneeboarding, longboarding, tandem, , , and stand up paddling. The ISA works to develop surfing in its member countries (101). Every year, the ISA organizes the world championships of nations for open surfing, junior surfing, masters’ surfing, stand up paddling, bodyboarding, and longboarding. On August 3, 2016, the International Olympic Committee decided to include five new disciplines – including surfing – at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (Japan). This was a victory for the ISA, which had been requesting this since 1990. The president of the ISA is the Argentinian, Fernando Aguerre, elected in 1994.

About the French Surfing Federation Established in 1964 in Biarritz, the French Federation of Surfing (FFS) is headquartered in Hossegor (department 40). Since 2005, it has been chaired by Jean-Luc Arassus, and headed by a governing board of 14 elected members. The FFS has received the delegation of authority from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Life, in order to organize, develop and regulate (both in France and overseas) the practice of surfing and its associated disciplines. The FFS includes 80,000 members (18,000 federal members and 62,000 recreational members), divided into 200 metropolitan and overseas clubs. A third of FFS members are women. The FFS has 150 « French School of Surfing » certified organizations. It has organized the French surfing championships since 1965. History : https://www.surfingfrance.com/federation/historique.html

Media contacts : Agence Olivia Payerne - ISA World Surfing Games press office : [email protected] Stéphane Sisco – French Surfing Federation Comms - [email protected]