August 1997 – N°27 – Cities – ENGLISH

What, principally, is at stake for Bordeaux in taking part in the staging of the World Cup?

The main thing is that the citizens of Bordeaux, and more generally the people of Aquitaine, are happy to host the event. This being the case, the World Cup can take place in our city under amicable conditions, and will amount to a party thrown for everybody, including those who won’t be going to see the matches at the stadium. Also important is that Bordeaux fulfils its role as host as best it can for the various types of visitor who will be in our city for this great international event. We’ll be doing our utmost to make sure that spectators at the stadium and visitors to the city alike have a really rich and enjoyable stay. The same goes for the World Cup partners, who I hope will go away with fond memories, and not forgetting the members of the press, who, I know, will find in Bordeaux working conditions second to none. We shall be paying particular attention to giving a warm welcome to the teams and officials who come to stay in the Aquitaine region. The other matter at stake is something over which we have no control whatsoever: whether or not good football is played at the stadium!

Aside from the facelift being given to the Stade Lescure, what else is being done in the city to make ready for the event?

Above all, we want to install amenities that will outlive the World Cup. For instance the Press Room is slated to become a school gymnasium after the tournament. But we have also made provisions for more lightweight facilities which should help the smooth running of the event, such as carparks linked to the stadium, new access roads, first-rate signage and a complete network of information points around the city.

How do you intend to bring the World Cup spirit to all the areas in the city?

It’s too early in the day for me to give you a complete list of all the projects in the pipeline. However, we want to promote our city and the typical character of the region. So all the entertainment, celebrations, concerts, shows and exhibitions will be centred around Bordeaux and Aquitaine culture. For example, we’ll be using the World Cup to launch our first Wine Festival, which will then take place every two years as of 1998. We would like every part of the city to be “kitted out” in World Cup colours, and of course, shops, organisations, museums and anyone else who wishes to join in can do so. Our goal could be summed up in the slogan “Bordeaux bids the whole world welcome.”