The “Fête de la Science” 2023, which ran from 10 to 27 November under the theme ‘Sport and Science’, took a unique twist in New Caledonia thanks to a series of events co-organised by the IRD, Météo-France, Studio 4×4 and Canal+ Calédonie. These events, combining documentary screenings and debates, explored the links between sport and climate, focusing on the impact of climate change on local sporting practices.
Reflection through film
The central point of the crossroads between sport and climate was the broadcast of the sports documentary series ‘Sans limites’, which highlights the surpassing of self by New Caledonian athletes. The series served as the basis for discussions on a highly topical subject : the evolution of sporting practices in a world increasingly subject to the effects of climate change.
The screenings and debates took place in two stages and in two different venues, each dealing with a specific aspect of land and water sports.
First stage : Le Rex cinema
On 10 November, land-based sporting activities took centre stage at Le Rex cinema. In the morning, two screenings and debates were organised for schoolchildren, enabling around forty secondary school pupils to watch the episode devoted to mountain biking.
This was followed by a lively discussion with Alexandre Peltier, head of the climate division at Météo-France’s New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna Interregional Office, mountain bike champion David Esposito and Fleur Vallet, coordinator of the CLIPSSA project, to give young people a better understanding of the environmental challenges they will have to face in the future.
Presentation of the mountain bike episode to schoolchildren
In the evening of the same day, the Fête de la Science in New Caledonia was inaugurated with the screening of the Ultra-Trail episode. In front of an audience of 75 people, moderated by host and facilitator Soizic Fleury, a debate took place with the participation of 4 speakers from the sporting, academic and scientific fields :
- Angélique Plaire, a New Caledonian athlete who won the Ultratour des 4 massifs (UT4M) in 2017, the Ultra Trail de Nouvelle Calédonie in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and finished on the podium of the Ultra World Tour in the Pacific in 2019, in February on the Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand.
- Olivier Galy, lecturer and doctor in Sciences and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities (STAPS), and director of the Education Research Laboratory at the University of New Caledonia.
- Alexandre Peltier, head of the climate division at the New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna Interregional Office of Météo-France.
- Fleur Vallet, environmental geographer and coordinator of the CLIPSSA project.
These discussions provided an opportunity to explore in greater depth the challenges that climate change poses for top-level athletes.
Discussions with the speakers after the Trail episode
Second stage : Origin Cinéma
On 16 November, the spotlight moved to the Origin cinema, where water sports took centre stage. The evening was centred on the Va’a episode of the ‘Sans limite’ series. The discussion that followed, in the presence of oceanographer Alexandre Ganachaud from the IRD and Phoebe Roger, French junior freestyle kite-surfing champion, was attended by around thirty people. The debate focused on the impact of climate change on the oceans and, consequently, on water sports, offering an enlightened scientific perspective on future challenges.
An open and essential dialogue
Under the moderation of moderator and facilitator Soizic Fleury, these events provided a platform for exchange around essential questions : how will our sporting practices evolve in the face of rising temperatures, heat waves and extreme climatic events? What challenges will tomorrow’s athletes face?
These screenings and debates were also an opportunity to highlight the results of Enora Cariou’s research course on heat waves in New Caledonia, providing a bridge between scientific research and the concerns of the general public.
In this way, the Fête de la Science 2023 in New Caledonia did more than just celebrate science; it also provided an opportunity for in-depth reflection on the future of sport in a world undergoing climate change, while raising awareness of these crucial issues among the younger generations and the general public.
To find out more, watch the making-off video for the Fête de la Science 2023 :