PRESS KIT September 14th-18th 2016 World Championships & paraclimbing 2 Summary Presentation of the event 3 © photo credits: Gaël BOUQUET des CHAUX/FFME Editorials 4 Anne COMBAZ/FFME Marc DAVIET/FFME Climbing for dummies 6 Rémi FABRÈGUE/FFME Olivier MANSIOT/FFME Olympic Games 7 Marie-Anne MIDY/FFME Program 8 AccorHotels Arena 9 Disciplines 10 Defending champions 14 The world’s bests 16 The world medalists 17 The French team 18 Ticketing 20 Practical information 21 The FFME 22 Media & contacts 23 worldclimbing2016.com September 14th-18th 2016 World Championships Organize the best & paraclimbingclimbing competition ever! 3 © photo credits: Gaël BOUQUET des CHAUX/FFME Anne COMBAZ/FFME Marc DAVIET/FFME Rémi FABRÈGUE/FFME Olivier MANSIOT/FFME Marie-Anne MIDY/FFME This is “just” what the FFME, in charge of the Climbing World Championships organization at the AccorHotels Arena from the 14th to the 18th of September 2016 – is promising for this climbing world summit. It is time to introduce them. Five days of competition. The four climbing disci- for us. It is the climbing world supreme title that is plines. The 500 best climbers worldwide competing at stake during a few minutes of competition", tells to win one of the 16 gold medals (at least). This is the Romain Desgranges, one of the biggest lead climbing 2016 Climbing World Championships scenario that specialists in the French team. will be staged in the biggest arena of the country: The brand new AccorHotels Arena. "Successful and spectacular World Championships are one of the best arguments in favor of our disci- An exceptional venue for the main climbing compe- pline. Bercy perfectly fulfilled this role in 2012. I have tition. "For the moment, they are our Olympic Ga- no doubt on the fact that the teams of the FFME, mes!", states Nicolas Januel, the bouldering French which will participate in the organization of the next coach. "Not a single international competition can edition, will succeed in fulfilling again this mission", be compared to Bercy." shares Corentin Le Goff, his concludes Pierre-Henri Paillasson, managing direc- counterpart for lead climbing. Both of the French tor and national technical director at the FFME. A vi- coaches know something about it: they were at the sion shared by Pierre You, president of the FFME: "I bottom of the walls in 2012 during the first Climbing am not afraid of saying it: we organized the greatest World Championships organized in Paris-Bercy. climbing competition in the world in 2012. We had An oppinion widely shared by the athletes. "Of course only one wish since then: do even better! " the World Cup circuit is very important, but the World Championships have clearly a greater dimension worldclimbing2016.com September 14th-18th 2016 World Championships & paraclimbing 4 Editorials Four years after the unforgettable by the IOC to include Sport Climbing in the Tokyo 2012 World Championships, Sport 2020 Olympic Games. Climbing is back in September, in Our sport is riding high, capturing the attention of Paris Bercy, at the newly renovated the youth - and not only - worldwide, with its amazing AccorHotels Arena. This unique and natural movements. The possibilities for growth venue will feature the highest level are endless, as climbing is a human instinct. We are all of competition climbing by top committed to climb higher, stronger and faster, under athletes and para-athletes from the Olympic Values. around the globe. The 2016 World Championships is the main calen- dar event of what has been a fantastic year for Sport Climbing: a rich World Cup, the World Youth Cham- Marco SCOLARIS, pionships, the 1st World University Sport Climbing President of the International Federation of Championship, and of course, the fantastic decision Sport Climbing After the success ringing of the countries, the AccorHotels Arena will welcome four 2012 Climbing World Cham- kinds of climbing competitions: lead, bouldering, pionships, France is happy to wel- speed and paraclimbing. come again - from the 14th to the The FFME, represented by its President Pierre You 18th September 2016 - this compe- and by the National Technical Director Pierre-Henri tition organized by the Internatio- Paillasson, has been committed for several years on nal Federation of Sport Climbing. the path of performance and development. The suc- The consecutive organization of cess of paraclimbing’s integration in the competition two World Championships shows the excellent health during the last World Championships was an example of the French Federation of mountain and climbing of this successful alchemy. and its efforts to register climbing in the olympic pro- I particularly want to thank the investment of all, gram and to contribute to the success of the applica- managers, elected representatives, volunteers and tion of Paris for the organization of the Olympics in technical frames who will, I am sure, make this event 2024. a success for the climbing community, for Paris, for the Region of Île-de-France and for France. The Climbing World Championships will be organi- zed within the framework of the «new» AccorHotels Arena, where more than 20 000 spectators will be expected. Sport largely practiced, dynamic and spec- tacular, climbing gathers a public who shares enthu- siasm and strong educational and sport values. During this international event which will gather Laurence LEFEVRE, more than 500 athletes who come from 50 different Director of Sports worldclimbing2016.com September 14th-18th 2016 World Championships & paraclimbing Editorials 5 The FFME is delighted to cele- We are very proud to present again paraclimbing at brate the 2016 Climbing World the same time as the other disciplines. This strong Championships in Paris. We orga- commitment shows our will to promote the practice nized the best climbing competi- of this sport to everyone, the public and the climbers. tion in the world in 2012. We had I want to thank all our partners, volunteers, athletes only one wish since then: do even and spectators who contribute to this unforgettable better! competition. The organization of this international sports event is a new decisive stage for sport climbing. After the decision of the IOC to add sport climbing to the 2020 Pierre YOU, Olympics in Tokyo, hosting such event will be an op- President of the French Federation portunity to promote once more our sport constantly increasing and to reaffirm the sports and educational mountaineering and climbing values that it conveys. Let’s all support the sports in the Île- taineering and climbing regional committee of Île- de-France region! de-France. The Region supports promotional opera- tions for paraclimbing and actions such as "Climbing There are more than 6 million of and health" It also values involved volunteers and inhabitants in the Île-de-France managers but also the arrival of women leaders as region who practice regularly a phy- well as the creation of a female team. Furthermore, it sical activity. Because sports take helps with the technicians, judges and referees’ trai- an important place in the everyday ning. life of the region’s inhabitants, we choose, besides the world’s actors Today, the Île-de-France Region is a major partner of of sports, to make it a strong axis of the sports movement. our regional politics. We wish the biggest success to all of you, climbers, Our Region welcomes the 2016 organizers, referees and volunteers of the 2016 Clim- Climbing and Paraclimbing World bing and Paraclimbing World Championships. May Championships that will take place this event be a sport celebration for all the Île-de- from the 14th to the 18th of Septem- France’s inhabitants. ber 2016 in the Parisian structure of the AccorHotels Arena and we are proud to bring our support for this athletic and festive event. Valérie PÉCRESSE, This partnership fits within the framework of a sup- Regional President, Île-de-France port strategy to the sports movement. This is how a Patrick KARAM, convention of objectives was signed with the moun- Vice-President convener for Sports Youth and the Volontary Sector worldclimbing2016.com September 14th-18th 2016 World Championships & paraclimbing 6 Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcoming the Climbing World Championships is also a great opportunity to promote and expand the sport. I am very happy to welcome you in Paris, in the new AccorHotels Arena, This sport that is now on the program of the Olympics for the return of a big climbing in Tokyo 2020, conveys values of perfection, surpas- international competition. Indeed, sing oneself, but also environmental protection. Rapi- after the World Championships in dly expanding, sport climbing has already been part of 2012, Paris is very proud to have the Parisian sports landscape for a long time, with 12 the World Championships this year artificial structures, including two new gym walls in La- th th again. doumègue (19 ) and Beaujon (8 ) inaugurated recently. But we also wish to bring the development and the in- As you know, Paris is this year on the center stage of terest around this sport by installing climbing modules the international sports again. In addition to its candi- in public places, to make Paris even more an open-air dacy for the organization of the Olympic and Paralym- playground. pic Games in 2024, we successfully hosted this summer the Euro of football while waiting for next year and for Finally, welcoming the Climbing World Championships the male handball World Championships in January, is also something to share with the Parisians, a show of the male hockey World Championships in May and the high intensity with incredible performances. wrestling World Championships in August. Other big sports events such as the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2018 I wish you all a very nice climbing week, and I send my Gay Games but also the 2019 women soccer World most sincere encouragements to all the competitors.