President of the French Cup
Dear friends,
It is with immense joy and profound pride that I welcome you to this 31st edition of the French Cup, an unmissable event for all synchronized figure skating enthusiasts.
Since its inception, the French Cup has continually evolved to become a leading international competition, bringing together talented teams from all corners of the world. This year again, we will have the privilege of witnessing exceptional performances, reflecting the hard work, passion, and excellence that drive each athlete and coach.
This 31st edition, held in November for the first time due to scheduling disruptions caused by the 2026 Winter Olympics, will once again be an opportunity to showcase synchronized skating, which is followed by an ever-growing community.
31 editions that we owe to all of you: athletes, volunteers, partners, spectators, and sports enthusiasts. Your unwavering support keeps the French Cup alive year after year.
A special thank you to our partners, whose commitment contributes to making this event a success, as well as to the organizing teams, who work with passion to offer you a show that lives up to your expectations.
Together, let’s celebrate this 31st edition in style, in a spirit of camaraderie, pushing our limits, and fair play. May this 2025 French Cup remain etched in your memories as an exceptional moment!
To everyone, I wish you a competition full of emotion and an unforgettable experience.
Sincerely,
Nicolas PAYSANT
President of the French Cup
History
FOCUS ON THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH CUP
The French Cup, an international synchronized skating competition, has embodied the spirit of sporting rivalry and camaraderie since its creation in 1994. This event, organized by the Rouen Olympic Club under the aegis of the ISU (International Skating Union) and the FFSG (French Ice Sports Federation), is the worthy successor to the Golden Apple Trophy. Today, it has established itself as an unmissable event on the world calendar.
A Competition of Excellence
In 2013, during its 19th edition, the French Cup brought together 42 teams from 10 nations, with a senior competition which welcomed 8 of the 10 best teams in the world. This exceptional level testifies to the importance of this event, which has become a key stage for the selection of teams for the World Championship.
Synchronized skating, a discipline which combines grace, technique and collective work, finds a real springboard in the French Cup. With skaters from the four corners of the globe, the competition puts Rouen and France on the international scene, thus consolidating its place among the largest ice sporting events.
The French Cup in Figures
The French Cup is much more than a competition: it is a celebration that mobilizes an entire community and creates regional dynamics.
In some impressive figures:
- 1,000 skaters participating.
- 5,000 hotel nights generated.
- 10,000 meals served in just four days.
- A parade of teams, a real moment of conviviality.
- Around fifteen hours of live TV and more than 300,000 web connections.
- A unique parade of participants in the city center, a true symbol of unity and the festive spirit of the event.
- More than 100 volunteers mobilized.
- And above all, thousands of spectators and participants happy to live this unique experience.
A Regional and International Impact
Beyond the sporting aspect, the French Cup is a real economic and cultural engine for the region. Supported by the city of Rouen, the Metropolis, the Department of Seine-Maritime and the Haute-Normandie Region, as well as by private partners, it benefits from an impeccable organization. This loyal support guarantees a warm and professional welcome for competitors, making Rouen a world reference in synchronized skating events.
Local media, such as France 3, France Bleu Haute-Normandie and the daily press, also play an essential role in broadcasting and promoting the competition, both regionally and internationally.
A Unique Alchemy
The French Cup is not just a competition, but a real catalyst for emotions and encounters. The alchemy that is created between competitors, spectators, volunteers and partners gives this event a magical aura. It is this same magic which, year after year, unites energies and reinforces the place of this event in the history of ice sports.
The French Cup illustrates that competition is not a modern notion, but a tradition that transcends time, providing a stage where excellence and passion meet. A great lesson in history and life for the whole family!
Edito of Departement
The Department of Seine-Maritime is proud to be at the side of the Rouen Olympic Club, faithfully at the helm since 1994, for this 31st edition.
On November 28 and 29, the French Cup will once again make Seine-Maritime an international mecca for synchronized figure skating. This high-level match is an unmissable moment in the world sports calendar. It is followed and appreciated. Receiving it reveals how attractive our territory is.
Historically, Seine-Maritime has been a gateway to sports in France and has played a driving role in their development.
Today, our department is still a land of sport and a pool of talent, as evidenced by the competitions recently won by our local athletes or past clubs as well as our modern infrastructures.
Making sport accessible to as many people as possible and everywhere guides our action. Each year, nearly 2000 sports associations are financially supported by the Department for a total of 1.5 million euros. It also invests in sports infrastructure. In 2024, nearly 90 pieces of equipment were financed for an amount of 4.5 million euros. It also accompanies more than twenty major sporting events such as the Perche Elite Tour or the Seine Marathon.
I would like to thank the hundred or so volunteers who, thanks to their indispensable commitment, allow nearly a thousand skaters to compete in sport, grouped into national teams.
I wish them a good competition and all of you who are cheering them on, a great show.
Bertrand BELLANGER
President of the Department of Seine-Maritime
Normandy region editorial
French Cup
The Normandy Region is proud to once again support the French Cup, one of the oldest international synchronized figure skating competitions. On November 28 and 29, 2025, the ice rink on the Île Lacroix in Rouen will come alive to the rhythm of this emblematic event, organized for the 31st time and which attracts thousands of spectators every year.
By bringing together the most prestigious nations in the discipline and their teams, this competition highlights the ability of our Region to host major sporting events, thus strengthening our influence well beyond our borders. I would like to express my gratitude to the organisers and all the volunteers, whose commitment makes it possible to hold a sporting weekend of remarkable quality. I am pleased to see that skating in Normandy, and more broadly ice sports, continue to show exemplary dynamism and ambition.
Since 2017, €70 million has been invested through territorial contracts to create or renovate more than 160 sports facilities, guaranteeing a lasting legacy for all practitioners. The renovation of the Normandy Sports Centre in Houlgate is an emblematic example: it is now one of the three major French structures open to Normandy leagues and high-level athletes, both French and international.
On the horizon of the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, held in the French Alps, synchronised figure skating and the whole of French sport will have a new opportunity to shine.
The policy that we are developing in favour of Normandy sport is carried out with the aim of continuing to build a Normandy that is ever more sporty and ever more conquering!
Happy competition to all!
Hervé MORIN
President of the Normandy Region