Nantes will speak more Breton than ever for ten days. From this Friday and until Sunday July 10, the first edition of the Brittany Games during which many sports competitions will be associated with cultural times (concerts, fest-noz, conferences, etc.).
Florian Le Teuff, one of the organizers (with the organizing committee of the Brittany Games), has been thinking about this event for two years, that is to say that he is deputy mayor of Nantes in charge of Breton issues . “The objective is the organization of a free popular festival during which we can ask ourselves questions on this controversial subject. [du rattachement de Nantes à la Bretagne] in a posed manner. Sport has the virtue of being able to tackle controversial subjects in a federative way. »
The Bretons (or not) therefore have an appointment in Nantes (Cours Saint-André, at the Château des ducs de Bretagne or at the Michel Lecointre stadium) for ten days. A competition between departments will be held with finals on July 9 and 10: 44 (Loire-Atlantique) in yellow, 56 (Morbihan) in orange, 29 (Finistère) in blue, 22 (Côtes-d’Armor) in green and 35 (Ille-et-Vilaine) in red. A test between “benevolent” departments, according to Florian Le Teuff, but also a possibility for everyone and free of charge to test some disciplines from Brittany. 20 minutes has also selected five typical or atypical “sports” to discover or rediscover.
The throw of the sheaf of straw in height (ar vaulted)
This discipline is one of the seven championship sports organized by the National Federation of Breton Athletic Sports (FNSAB). It’s a game straight from the agricultural world and in particular from the field of harvests. Competitors must throw a sheaf of straw up high using a two-pronged pitchfork. The weight of the sheaf is fixed at 7.3 kg and its throw must make it pass over a horizontal bar. The throw is accepted even if the pattern touches the bar. The height is raised with each valid throw. Record a priori currently 7.50m.
Meet on Saturday July 2 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday July 3 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday July 9 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday July 10 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Cours Saint-André
Le Gouren
Breton judo. Of Celtic origin, the Gouren is the traditional wrestling of Brittany. Its popularity dates back to the Middle Ages. The objective is to make his opponent fall on his back, with both shoulder blades touched. The wrestlers clasp their hands in the rocked (shirt), above the waistband. With their feet, they can make mowings, barrages, sweeps or kliked (leg wraps). Leg attacks must stay below the belt.
The Gouren tournament will take place in the courtyard of the Château des ducs de Bretagne from 12 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on July 9, demonstrations and initiations on Monday July 4, Tuesday July 5 and Wednesday July 6, still at the Château.
the basketball Breton (invented discipline)
It’s a pure invention. Principle: throw a bowl and try (as far as possible) to score in a basketball hoop. Many failures and… breakages in perspective, but no worries, the faience factory of Pornic provided 1,000 unsaleable bowls…
Every evening, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Cours Saint-André
Shuffleboard Tournament
The discipline is also well known in Vendée, a little further down. For nine days on the square of the maquis of Saffré overlooking the Erdre, will be held tournaments of pucks on board.
Final on July 9 at the square du maquis, 122 Rue Sully
Muscadet barrel roller tournament
A centuries-old tradition specific to coopers and winegrowers, barrel “rolling” is a sport, stemming from work, as old as the invention of the wooden barrel. In cooperages, wineries, on loading docks etc., it was a common practice that made it easier to move empty barrels and barrels by rolling them on their sides. Discipline in partnership with the Breton wine committee.
Tuesday July 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cours Saint-André
All the program of the Brittany Games to find here