after a controversy, a famous running race postpones its registration dates

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There is water in the gas between the Ultra Marin Raid Golfe du Morbihan® association and the municipality of Valves (Morbihan). Nuisance at the port poses a particular problem. The organizer has decided to postpone the start of registrations. What you need to know about this controversy.

What does Ultra Marin accuse the municipality of?

During a municipal meeting dated November 8, 2024Ultra Marin indicates that the municipality has “rejected all the new features introduced as part of the 20 years of Ultra Marin®”.

Now in an emergency, the organization’s incomprehension is total given that the project presented at this meeting was well received. Unable to announce the new features and the Ultra Marin® 2025 project in recent days, we must postpone registrations.

“Despite the agreement of 10 municipalities out of the 11 concerned around the Gulf of Morbihan, the proposal is rejected by the city of Vannes”, indicates Ultra Marin which reveals that the municipality wants “ limit the number of days of activities in order to reduce constraints” around the port.

Relocation of the Petits Marins race?

The Ultra Marin intended to organize the “Little Sailor Race” in the rampart gardens.

“Historically on the promenade of the Port of Vannes, this free race was to be relocated to the Jardins des Remparts. Due to high demand, we wanted to welcome more children (400 compared to 100 in 2024) in a new, secure location that is more conducive to the organization of this event,” the event states.

Except that the proposal is “rejected due to technical constraints for the services”, i.e. access to an electrical connection.

In addition, an elite race around the port on Thursday June 26, 2025 to launch the Ultra Marin weekend activities is rejected for 2025 because the “elected officials do not wish not add additional animations around the port already very busy, with additional constraints for walkers. »

The response of the municipal majority

During the municipal council of November 18, 2024the opposition questioned the majority on the matter.

“It is the Ultra Marine who chooses to communicate. I am keen on this event which highlights the Gulf of Morbihan. This sporting event has a significant economic weight. We must be in consultation rather than in a fait accompli,” responded Mayor David Robo to the opposition during the municipal council.

Chorus Park at the port square?

The municipality recalls that during the 2024 edition, “Ultra Marin experienced tensions in the organization (limited spaces, coexistence with a public photographic exhibition)” and on this occasion, “the city of Vannes had already indicated to the president of the association the interest that it would be for everyone to conceive things differently with a arrival at Chorus Park (by maintaining the start on the esplanade), as the Vannes marathon has recently done, which is very satisfied with it. »

The spaces on the port esplanade have in fact become too restricted given the importance of the event.

Relocate the Ultra Marin® from the port to the Chorus exhibition center from 2026? The organizers are awaiting explanations and feedback from the city of Vannes concerning the holding of the event in the town.

The issue of noise pollution

The municipality adds:

Furthermore, the city wishes that all event organizers better integrate the principle of the city that lives, with residents, who, on site, must be able to live and sleep without permanent excessive noise, with the possibility of accessing their car …

“With the security constraints imposed by the State (street closures, car removals, etc.), the sequence of demonstrations in an attractive space, the city wanted to work on a charter of uses from 2023 and limit the establishments indiversifying the places (Ramparts, Chorus, etc.)”, recalls the community.

This desire to combine comfort of life, city life and attractiveness requires organizers to adapt their organization if they wish to continue to use the public domain of the city of Vannes.

For its part, Ultra Marin indicates that “constraints, particularly noise, around the port of Vannes, for the 100 km Raid or for the rest of the races have been a priority for Ultra Marin® since 2022”.

Measures have been taken:

• speakers muted from 10 p.m. (+/- 30 minutes),
• no speaker at night
• maintaining moderate sound or even muting it during the day when no entertainment is offered in the village.

The sporting event indicates that no complaints from the neighborhood had not been recorded during the entire weekend.

The “always more” of the sporting event

“The multiplication of race courses, the “ always more » new thingsif it is a factor of attractiveness for organizations, must now be examined with regard to technical feasibility, a balanced overall schedule, accessibility for everyone (residents, visitors, customers, participants in the demonstration) and the nuisance caused to the resident population,” believes the community.

She gives an example:

Crossing the intramuros will be favored to the detriment of an internal loop, which generates many more constraints.

Discussions continue between the two entities. The organizer “apologizes for the postponement of registrations” and hopes that “common ground” will be found quickly.

An agreement reached between the two entities

Registrations will finally take place from December 2 to 4.

During a meeting at the town hall onNovember 19th and a deliberation of elected officials dated November 22, the town hall of Vannes and L’Ultra Marin® reached an agreement.

Ultra Marin® is aware of the town hall’s constraints on the nuisance that the race can cause, which is why it was agreed that the organization will continue and intensify its work on this subject for 2025 and for future editions.

For the 2026 edition, the two entities will think together about“relocate certain activities to Parc du Chorus” with the aim of “reducing nuisance as much as possible” in the city while keeping the soul and charm of L’Ultra Marin®.

Then, the proposal from L’Ultra Marin® to spread its races over 4 days by bringing forward the start of the 100 km Raid to Thursday June 26 at 12 p.m., was validated by the elected officials of the city of Vannes.

“This change makes it possible to better manage the flow of the public, runners and vehicles during the event: a major advantage for the municipalities and for the environment,” indicates Ultra Marin.

Registrations for the 20th anniversary of Ultra Marin are finally finalized.

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