PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 2023 31th
We have learned of the Houilles town hall's decision to organise a "Corrida de Houilles" race on Sunday 17 December in place of the event that we have duly and regularly registered with World Athletics and the French Athletics Federation.
This new event would be organised by 2 private companies.
We would like to inform you of our decision to dissociate ourselves from this initiative.
As historic organiser, we were not consulted at any stage in the setting up of this new race.
We also note that, as it stands, the description of the race does not offer any guarantee that the organisational requirements will comply with the rules and resources required to produce an event of the quality and renown of the Corrida Internationale de Houilles.
For these reasons, we urge you to exercise the utmost caution.
Yours sincerely
The Comité des Fêtes de Houilles
PRESS RELEASE OF 2023 SEPTEMBER 18th
CANCELLATION OF THE 2023 CORRIDA DE HOUILLES
The 51st “Corrida pédestre internationale de Houilles”, registered on the World Athletics and French Athletics Federation calendars for December 17, has been cancelled.
Despite all our efforts, the Mayor of Houilles, for incomprehensible reasons, stubbornly refuses to allow us the temporary use of the public domain to host the race.
The Comité des Fêtes de Houilles is therefore unable to organize the event as it has done since 1972!
It is deep sadness that the hundreds of volunteers who have worked so hard to ensure the survival of this major and legendary event in the athletics season, which has put Houilles on the map the world over, feel today!
A further regret in this pre-Olympic year is that French athletes from the 1500m to the Marathon are losing the opportunity to fine-tune their preparation for the Olympics, as they traditionally do, by rubbing shoulders with the world's best runners.
We would like to thank all our partners, suppliers, sponsors and athletes.
But with our good sense, our experience and your support, we will put all our energy into making sure that the “Corrida pédestre internationale de Houilles” comes back.
Yours sincerely,
The Board of the Comité des Fêtes de Houilles