Inauguration of the climbing wall at the Palais Universitaire des Sports Veyrassi

[Press release] - Published on October 21, 2024 in Press room, Faculties, schools and institutes

On Monday, October 21, 2024, Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, and Angèle Chopard, Director of the UFR des sciences et techniques des activités physiques et sportives, inaugurated the new climbing wall at the Palais Universitaire des Sports Veyrassi, in the presence of Patrice Canayer, regional councillor for the Occitanie/ Pyrénées-Méditerranée region, and Christophe Bourdin, councillor for Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. The €408,000 project was financed by the University of Montpellier.

A structure to complement the sports facilities on the Veyrassi campus

The Veyrassi campus, home to over 2,200 students each year from the UFR STAPS (Unité de formation et de recherche en sciences et techniques des activités physiques et sportives) of the University of Montpellier, now benefits from an additional asset for its community. Thanks to a €408,000 grant from the University of Montpellier, a new, highly valuable work tool has been installed: a high-level climbing wall. This infrastructure enhances the campus facilities and opens up new prospects for training, practice and competition in this sport.

Climbing, one of the 18 sports specialties offered by the UFR STAPS, is divided into three major disciplines: bouldering, difficulty and speed. The Veyrassi campus now boasts a climbing wall that meets regional standards, enabling students to train in a safe and conducive environment. The 13-metre-high wall, with a 3.5-metre overhang, is ideal for a wide range of climbing activities. In addition, the structure includes some fifty routes and is equipped with over 3,500 holds, providing a stimulating training ground for beginners and more experienced climbers alike. The new facility will enable UFR STAPS students to explore and perfect their skills in all three disciplines. Bouldering, for example, which focuses on short, intense climbs without ropes, will be able to be practised directly on campus.

The facility is supervised by Damien Jacquet, a state-certified rock-climbing instructor newly recruited to the UFR STAPS. His main role is to supervise students in their climbing activities, ensuring their safety and providing them with high-quality teaching support. Thanks to his expertise, everyone will benefit from optimal supervision, whether they are discovering the activity or improving their skills.

In addition to the courses and training provided as part of the STAPS training program, this structure will also be accessible to other students at the University of Montpellier, notably through the Service universitaire des activités physiques et sportives (SUAPS). The climbing wall can thus be used for leisure activities and evening classes, enabling the entire university community to benefit from this new facility. In addition, agreements will be signed with other entities, such as local schools, sports associations, federations or leagues, to extend the possibilities of access to this structure. It is therefore destined to become a real place of sharing, where the university, school, association and federal worlds can meet to practice climbing.