MICHELIN: 100 years of sport

Convention-internationnale-2011-Sport-et-entreprise-michelin

12/10/2011 14:14

MICHELIN: 100 years of sport

The ASM (Association Sportive Michelin = Michelin Sporting Association) was founded on October 11, 1911. For the past 100 years, MICHELIN has been involved in an extensive list of disciplines, notably motorsport, and the centenary will be duly celebrated in the firm’s hometown (Clermont-Ferrand, France) in the form of different exhibitions and an international ‘Sport & Business’ convention on November 5-6.

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| by Herve

Had it not been for its long involvement in sport, MICHELIN might never have become the major global business it is today. The notions of performance, surpassing one’s limits, perseverance, team spirit and working together are all values championed by sport that have fused with those of the company.

The invention of a removable tyre in 1891 enabled Charles Terront to win the very first competition in which the Group took part. That event saw brothers Edouard and André Michelin give a decisive boost to the future of their fledgling firm and ensured that sporting values would rapidly became an integral part of MICHELIN’s DNA.

The multisport Association Sportive Michelin (ASM) was founded by Marcel Michelin and stands out as the world’s longest-standing sporting patronage. In 1922, for example, Marcel Michelin opened France’s first ever covered swimming pool, in Clermont-Ferrand.

Today, the ASM covers numerous disciplines and boasts 4,000 members who take part in activities as varied as boxing, gymnastics, athletics, basketball, judo, wrestling, soccer and, of course, rugby! In 2010, ASM Clermont-Auvergne won France’s national rugby championship (at last).

MICHELIN’s involvement in motorsport dates even further back, to 1895, and has harvested a glittering record of 10 world titles in Formula 1, 39 in rallying and 26 in motorcycle racing, plus 20 victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours, etc.

The ASM’s centenary celebrations in Clermont-Ferrand will last from October 11 until November 6 and will include an outdoor photo exhibition (100 years, 100 photos) in one of the city’s parks. On November 5-6, MICHELIN will also host a major international convention – based on the theme ‘Sport & Business’ – to which a number of top sporting names have been invited, including seven-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb. At the same time, the Polydome centre will host a display of competition machinery which will be open to the public.

Association Sportive Michelin, international convention, Marcel Michelin, Michelin, MICHELIN’s DNA