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Sports and economic competition, but also cooperation and friendship between Toulouse and Montpellier. Before the double foot and rugby confrontation, January 25 and 26 in Toulouse, the mayors of the two cities answered our questions.
Toulouse and Montpellier compete in rugby (Saturday 2 p.m.) and football (Sunday 5:15 p.m.) in Toulouse. Pretty derbies in perspective?
Michaël Delafosse: Yes, absolutely, and I will also be in the stands of the Stadium on Sunday, to support the Montpellier Hérault Sporting Club (MHSC), which is in a slightly difficult situation in the ranking. The Vice-President of the Metropolis will be present on Saturday at the Ernest-Walloon stadium for the rugby match.
Jean-Luc Moudenc: The Stadium will pleasure with pleasure Michaël, my counterpart, like the supporters of Montpellier. It is a healthy competition. There has never been any controversy or virulence in our sporting relationships. With Michaël, we regularly meet, especially within the framework of Urban France, the association of major cities and metropolises. We have made sure that our two cities cooperate rather than competing unnecessarily.
The rivalry between the two cities is on infrastructure. Toulouse who hosts events more outdoors, and Montpellier who has efficient rooms?
MD: Montpellier has six clubs in the elite, Toulouse too. Toulouse has Léon Marchand, and Montpellier has the Lebrun brothers (table Tennis). It is important to support sport, not only for the most media events such as the Olympic Games, but also for everyday sport.
J.-L. M.: Toulouse has an important sports pool with 92,000 licensees and around 700 sports equipment, mainly municipal. This is the result of a historic investment in popular sport, with 100 million euros invested in sports infrastructure under the current mandate (2020-2026).
Montpellier seems better armed to host national and international events, with regard to room sports?
MD: Yes, we welcomed the European Judo Championships in our Arena with 15,000 places. There was the stage of the World Table Tennis Circuit (WTT), where Félix Lebrun particularly shone. We are applying to welcome the world championships in 2027. We are waiting for Léon Marchand at the French swimming championships, next June.
J.-L. M.: Indeed, the Toulouse tennis tournament no longer exists, but we have seen other dynamic disciplines emerge such as the Padel, which attracts more and more practitioners and spectators. As for swimming, Toulouse remains a major player: the TOEC dolphins club has been, for over 40 years, the main provider of athletes for the national team. We also support the project of a new Olympic swimming pool, in private public partnership with the swimming city project.
What are your city’s projects concerning infrastructure?
JLM: I mentioned the city of swimming. We participate in the reflection on the expansion of the Stadium, with the leaders of the TFC and the Stade Toulousain. It is crucial to adopt a collaborative approach with all actors, including the region and other communities, to finance such projects in a context of budgetary tension.
MD: We always mention the idea of a new stadium, carried by President Laurent Nicollin for the football club. We have inaugurated the Rénové Sports Palais in Pierre-de-Coubertin.
Montpellier and Toulouse will host the Tour de France next July, a link between your two cities?
JLM: Yes, Toulouse historically welcomes the Tour, very regularly. This year, the caravan will remain in Toulouse for 4 days, including a loop stage around the city and in the Haute-Garonne department.
What do you want your counterpart for this weekend?
MD: Many goals and tests for the public especially, and a great promotion of sport. With victories for Montpellier…
J.-LM: Of course two beautiful matches. But the symbol above all that Toulouse-Montpellier is the symbol of an Occitania which wins!
