College of Athletes

Inaugurated on October 19, 1913, under the impetus of the Marquis de Polignac, the Reims College of Athletes was a pioneering institution for physical education in France. Its opening ceremony brought together Raymond Poincaré, President of the Republic, and Pierre de Coubertin, then President of the International Olympic Committee, testifying to the national and international importance of this project.

Inspired by Georges Hébert's natural method, the college is the first center dedicated to training sports educators and athletes. Its comprehensive facilities – stadium, gymnasium, swimming pool, laboratories, and library – allow for a modern and scientific approach to physical preparation.

The center hosts top athletes, including the legendary Jean Bouin, coached by Hébert himself.

Although the site did not survive the ravages of the First World War, the City of Reims took over its management in 2004. Today, a few preserved buildings still bear witness to this avant-garde place, a true cradle of French physical education.