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Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
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== Sport == Pau has many sports facilities and several high level sport clubs. === Clubs === *Basketball: The professional club [[Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez]] accounts for nine titles as Champion of France (1986, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2004), six Cups of France (1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2007), three Tournament of "A"s (1991, 1992, 1993), a week of "A"s (1993) and a title of winner of the [[FIBA Korać Cup|Korać Cup]] in 1984 (European Cup). In 2007, the club climbed into the European top 16. Its results at the end of the 2008–2009 season demoted it Pro B. After a reorganization of its capital, the club changed its name and became the Élan béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez (ÉBPLO). The following 2009–2010 season was totally successful with a first place in the regular season (meaning an immediate promotion to Pro-A) and a title of Champion of France of Pro-B won at Paris Bercy against CSP Limoges. Pau-Orthez play its home matches at the [[Palais des Sports de Pau]] and former players include [[Boris Diaw]], [[Mickaël Piétrus]] and [[Johan Petro]]. *[[Rugby union]]: the [[Section Paloise]], club created in 1902 is one of the oldest French rugby clubs. Pau has won three titles of Champion of France (1928, 1946 and 1964), three Cups of France (1939, 1952, 1997) and a [[European Challenge Cup]] (2000). Recently, the club participated in two semi-finals of the French Championship (1996, 2000) and a semi-final of the Heineken Cup ([[1997–98 Heineken Cup|1998]]). The club appeared in the elite Top 16 which became the [[Top 14]], until 2006. It is now in [[Rugby Pro D2|Pro D2]], and reached the finals of accession for the Top 14 in 2012 and 2013. Two current [[France national rugby league team|French International]] players, [[Imanol Harinordoquy]] and Pau native [[Damien Traille]], once played for the team. *[[Canoeing|Canoe]]-[[Kayaking|kayak]]: The Palois university club Pyrénées-Eaux-Vives (CUPPEV) has four champions of very high level: [[Patrice Estanguet]], bronze medalist at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, [[Tony Estanguet]], the younger brother of Patrice, triple Olympic champion in 2000, 2004 and 2012 and triple champion of the world (2006, 2009 and 2010), [[Fabien Lefèvre]], double champion of the world (2002 and 2003) and twice medalist at the summer Olympics (2004 and 2008) and [[Julien Billaut]] champion of the world in 2006. *Fencing: {{Interlanguage link|Section paloise (fencing)|fr|3=Section paloise (escrime)|lt=Section Paloise}} is one of the most prestigious clubs in France.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} Since its creation, in the {{Interlanguage link|Quartier du Hédas|fr}}, many Olympic and world champions are from the club. Since 1959, the Section ensures the continuity of this Olympic discipline with its assets, three global medals, several places of finalists in the World Cup and 26 titles of Champion of France. Fencers are taught the six disciplines of épée, foil and sabre for men and for women, under the leadership of the fencing masters Alain Coicaud, Laurent Vicenty and Michel Salesse. The Section is classified first in clubs of the Southwest in all three weapons and among the best French clubs. The 2005–2006 season was an exceptional year which had several Pau competitors, led by Julien Médard, Gavin Lallement and Romain Miramon, winning national and international individual and team titles. *[[Association football|Football]]: [[Pau FC|Pau Football Club]] played in the [[Championnat National]] from 1998 to 2008 before suffering relegation. After an 8-year stint in the [[Championnat National 2]] (fourth division) Pau FC were promoted back into the French third division in 2016. It hosted many players having completed a successful professional career thereafter. [[André-Pierre Gignac]], [[Tino Costa]], [[Aurélien Chedjou]], [[Julien Escudé]], [[Édouard Cissé]] and [[Xavier Gravelaine]] have all worn the colours of Pau FC during their career. *[[Athletics (sport)|Athletics]]: CUP, Club Universitaire Palois (also called CUPau), founded on 29 August 1947. *[[Handball]]: Club Pau-[[Nousty]] (National 1). *[[American football]]: The ''Sphinx de Pau'', club was created in 1998. *Baseball and Softball: The Pumas de Pau were Champions of France in 2004 and finalist in 2006. *[[Parkour]]: Association "Shock of Street – Pau Parkour"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shock-of-street.e-monsite.com/|title=Bienvenue sur le site de Shock of Street, association de Parkour à Pau.|language=fr|trans-title=Welcome to Shock of Street, Parkour Association in Pau.|access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref> created in 2010, affiliated with the Federation of Parkour. *Pyrénéa Sports<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pyreneasports.com/|title=PYRÉNÉA SPORTS|language=fr|trans-title=PYRÉNÉA SPORTS|access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref> is a mountain club for [[mountaineering]], [[rock climbing]], hiking, [[Ski touring|mountain skiing]] and [[Alpine skiing]] and was created in 1939. it organizes the Pyrénéa,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jfcouf.club.fr/triathlon.htm|title=LA PYRENEA TRIATHLON|language=fr|trans-title=LA PYRENEA TRIATHLON|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308131541/http://jfcouf.club.fr/triathlon.htm|archive-date=8 March 2009}}</ref> the Pau triathlon at [[Gourette]]. *Aerial sports: **The Aéro-Club du Béarn, the oldest Aero-Club of France, was founded by Paul Tissandier in December 1908 to approve the flights that the Wright brothers were to perform in Pau. These transferred effectively to Pau from January 1909. The Wright flight school had initially opened at Le Mans in the summer of 1908. **The Pau Pyrénées Air Club (CHP), founded in 2004, is a club dedicated to aerobatics, it is located in the Pau Pyrénées airport sheds. *[[Club alpin français|French Alpine Club]]: The section of Pau was created in 1886 for [[mountaineering]], hiking, ski mountaineering, [[canyoning]]. *[[Parachuting]]: The region of Pau, renowned for its low exposure to the wind, is a centre of parachuting and the focus of several clubs. Pau has hosted several World Championships and is the seat of the [[School of Airborne Troops (France)|ETAP]]. *[[Chess]]: Being one of the oldest clubs of chess, the Exchequer Henri IV, established in 1925, is the largest club of Aquitaine. It is also one of the 45 clubs to receive, until 2013, the label of trainer of clubs. === Facilities === [[File:Stade d'Eaux Vives Pau Pyrénées.JPG|thumb|The whitewater stadium]] [[File:PalaisdesSportsPau.jpg|thumb|[[Palais des sports de Pau|Palais des sports]]]] *The [[Stade du Hameau]] [Hamlet Stadium], a 13,966-seat stadium located to the east of the city, home to Section Paloise rugby and Pau PC. The stadium has two covered grandstands, a fitness room and a club house. *The [[Palais des Sports de Pau]]: With 7,856 seats, it is the 2nd largest hall in France after Bercy.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} The Élan Béarnais home, it has also served in Davis Cup events, at the handball World Championships, the official [[1999 European Basketball Championship]] and the gymnastics Championship of France. *The [[Circuit de Pau-Ville]], is a temporary motor racing circuit in the streets of the city and which hosts the [[Pau Grand Prix]]. *The whitewater stadium of Pau-Pyrénées opened in 2008. It is a man-made basin fed by the Gave de Pau. It welcomes in particular elite division of the team of France of [[kayak]] and the centre of hopefuls. It hosted a round of the World Cup in 2009 and 2012. It will host the [[Canoeing|canoe]]-kayak 2017 World Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agglo-pau.fr/au-quotidien/cuisine-communautaire/70-divers/111-pau-pyrenees-obtient-les-mondiaux-de-canoe-kayak-2017.html|title=Pau-Pyrénées obtient les mondiaux de canoë-kayak 2017|language=fr|trans-title=Pau-Pyrenees obtains 2017 world canoeing|access-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416195737/http://www.agglo-pau.fr/au-quotidien/cuisine-communautaire/70-divers/111-pau-pyrenees-obtient-les-mondiaux-de-canoe-kayak-2017.html|archive-date=16 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> *The water stadium: This outdoor pool is housed two basins, which is "almost Olympic" (it lacked only a tiny centimetre to be approved),{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} and a diving pool. *The rugby stadium of the [[Stade de la Croix du Prince|Croix du Prince]], historic seat of [[Section Paloise]], in which the youth teams play again today. *The equestrian field of Sers and the {{Interlanguage link|Hippodrome du Pont-Long|fr|3=Hippodrome du Pont-Long|lt=Pont-Long Racecourse}}: It is the second equestrian centre of France, behind Chantilly and before Maisons-Laffitte for [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]]. It holds twenty-eight meetings of steeplechase and flat per year. The steeplechase course is one of the most formidable in Europe.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} The Sers training centre houses six hundred horses. *The [[Basque pelota]] Complex, inaugurated in 2006, is for [[Jai alai]], a ''mur à gauche'', a [[Basque trinquete|trinquet]] and an open place [[Fronton (court)|fronton]]. It is the largest Basque pelota facility in Europe (2,600 seats). This facility is known to be underemployed. The Amateur World Championships of Basque pelota (Basque sport) should have taken place there in 2006 and were held in 2010. Since May 2007, the converted trinquet has reopened to its original sport, [[real tennis]], on Sundays. *Two golf courses are located near Pau: The [[Artiguelouve]] golf course and the [[Pau Golf Club]], located in [[Billère]]. Created by Scots and laid out in 1856,<ref name="laffaye" /> it was the first of the European continent and one of the oldest in the world. It offers an 18-hole course and its Victorian-style clubhouse features a restaurant and a bar with a British atmosphere. *The Plantier de Pau: For the game of {{Interlanguage link|Quilles de neuf|fr}}, an ancestor of bowling, to practice with a {{convert|6.2|kg|lb}} ball and nine bowling pins of {{convert|96|cm|in}}. *The André-Lavie Stadium, stadium of Pau athletics and for the training of university sports teams. This site held the ''Interville'' competition between Pau and Saint Jean de Luz, on 13 August 2007. *The SUAPS climbing wall: The highest climbing wall of Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées, it is a top place of training for Pyrénéan climbers. For amateur joggers the Gave de Pau river bank footpath is a most valued itinerary,{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} which starts near the castle and passes along Pau's golf course heading west. Another spot is Pont-Long wood north of the town. === Events === Since 1930, Pau has become a mainstay of the [[Tour de France]] cycling race, thanks both to its geographical location and to its marvelous infrastructure. Pau hosted its 63rd stage in 2010, and only one other city besides Paris has done better. The [[2010 Tour de France|2010 Tour]] visited Pau on three occasions: First as a passing town, second time as a finish, and the third time as a departure town on the way to the [[Col du Tourmalet]]. Pau is behind Bordeaux as the town of the province to have had most stages in the history of the Tour. Pau will receive the Tour for the 75th time in [[2024 Tour de France|2024]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agglo-pau.fr/sport-loisirs-nature/tour-de-france.html|language=fr|title=Pau camp de base du Tour dans les Pyrénées|trans-title=Pau Base Camp of the Tour in the Pyrenees|access-date=16 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503230659/http://www.agglo-pau.fr/sport-loisirs-nature/tour-de-france.html|archive-date=3 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Perhaps the highest-profile sporting event is the [[Étoiles de Pau]] ("Stars of Pau"). Held annually in October, it is one of only six annual competitions in [[eventing]] that receive the highest rating of [[Concours Complet International|CCI****]] from [[equestrianism]]'s world governing body, the [[International Federation for Equestrian Sports|FEI]]. It's also the only event of this level in France. In 2008, between 11 and 23 August, Pau hosted the 83rd [[French Chess Championship]]. The men's event was won by [[Étienne Bacrot]], on tie-break from [[Maxime Vachier-Lagrave]], while the women's event resulted in a victory for [[Sophie Milliet]]. Thirty-six players took part. Pau was previously the Championship venue in 1943 and 1969. [[File:Boulevard des Pyrénées Féminine.JPG|thumb|The ''Féminine'' on the [[Boulevard des Pyrénées]]]] Other events include: *Stages of France's canoeing Championships. *{{Interlanguage link|Marathon de Pau|fr}}, whose departure takes place every year from the Palais Beaumont. *The ''Féminine'' de Pau, walking race held twice per year from 2012. *International meeting of capoeira. *Dance international meetings organized by the Rezodanse association. *Frequent events such as the [[Davis Cup]] of tennis (four times), every November tennis ATP Challenger Tour, the World Championship of handball, the Championship of European nations of basketball, France's Gymnastics Championships, the Championships of France of parachute jumping. ==== Pau Grand Prix ==== {{Main|Pau Grand Prix}} [[File:Paucircuit.jpg|thumb|[[Átila Abreu]] races his [[Mücke Motorsport]] [[Formula Three]] car on the Pau circuit in 2005]] [[File:Grd prix historique.jpg|thumb|The ''Grand Prix Historique'']] Pau held the first race to be called a [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]] in 1901. After that the [[1928 French Grand Prix]] was held in nearby [[Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne|Saint-Gaudens]], Pau also wanted to arrange the race and in 1930 the French Grand Prix was held on a [[Circuit de la Sarthe|Le Mans]]-type track outside the city with [[Philippe Étancelin]] winning for [[Bugatti]]. Pau returned to the calendar in 1933 with a track in the town centre inspired by [[Circuit de Monaco|Monaco]]. The track, {{convert|2769|m|mi}} long, is winding and has remained largely unchanged. The first curve is the station hairpin. After that the road climbs on the Avenue Léon Say, alongside the stone viaduct that carries the Boulevard de Pyrenées, to Pont Oscar. A tunnel is followed by the narrow hairpin at the Louis Barthou high school that leads the track into the demanding Parc Beaumont section at the top of the town. After the Casino garden and another hairpin, the track winds back to the start along the Avenue Lacoste. Pau traditionally opened the season but mid-February for the 1933 GP meant the race took place in a [[snowstorm]] with slush. After a one-year pause the race was back in 1935 with [[Tazio Nuvolari]] dominating in an [[Alfa Romeo P3]] entered by [[Scuderia Ferrari]]. The 1936 race saw the only major victory for the [[Maserati]] V8-R1, driven by Ètancelin. In 1937 the race was part of the French sports car series with [[Jean-Pierre Wimille]] dominating, running three to four seconds a lap faster than the rest of the field. GP racing was back in 1938 and Pau became a test track for [[Mercedes-Benz]] before the [[European Championship (auto racing)|Grandes Epreuves]]. The 1938 race saw [[René Dreyfus]]' [[Delahaye]] sensationally beating the [[Mercedes-Benz]] team. In 1939 Mercedes wasn't to be taken by surprise, [[Hermann Lang]] leading the team to a double victory. After World War II Pau continued as a non-championship [[Formula One]] race until 1963. Thereafter the race was run to [[Formula Two]] rules until 1985, and thereafter by its replacement, [[Formula 3000]]. In 1999, the event again changed, with [[Formula Three]] cars racing. Finally, in 2007, the race became a round of the [[World Touring Car Championship]]. The ''Grand Prix de Pau Historique'' is organized on the [[Circuit de Pau-Ville]] once a year, a week before or after the modern Grand Prix, this event brings together vehicles with animated racing of the past.
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