Vincent Gillioz
Les Sables-d’Olonne
Published on November 9, 2024 at 12:03 p.m. / Modified on November 9, 2024 at 6:13 p.m.
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A town of 50,000 inhabitants, Sables-d’Olonne is completely transfigured during the three weeks preceding the start of the Vendée Globe, every four years.
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Visitors flood by the thousands, filling the car parks and the race village which, for the first time, can only be accessed by presenting an entry ticket – free but corresponding to a time slot.
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During an interview given to TempsMayor Yannick Moreau highlights the local expertise that has been built up by hosting races and tourists.
Every four years, Sables-d’Olonne transforms into a world center for ocean racing. Tens of thousands of visitors flock daily to experience the unique atmosphere generated by the Vendée Globe. This year, there will have been 360,000 during the first week of opening of the dedicated village, and the figure should exceed one million by Sunday. Dizzy? Not so much for the inhabitants of the Vendée town of 50,000 souls.
“We are a seaside resort, and therefore experienced in demographic transitions,” explains Mayor Yannick Moreau, very relaxed despite the imminent departure of the tenth edition on Sunday. A usual question for this Republican elected in 2019, who receives Time in the opulent salon of Cap-Horniers, above the Olona port. “The number of inhabitants quadruples to reach 200,000 each summer and during school holidays,” he continues. Our infrastructures are adapted and sized to cope with the crowds generated by the event. That doesn’t mean it’s easy or routine, because it’s never easy! But the experience of tourism and previous editions allows us to approach this period with relative serenity. All employees are on deck, and working hard to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible.”
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