As part of the European Week of Sport a 2-day event was organized under the Erasmus+ project GAP Women led by the UFEC and funded by the European Union. The event which took place in collaboration with the French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT) focused on promoting gender equality in sport and featured an impressive lineup of guests panel discussions and activities.
Friday: Round Table on Gender Equality in Sport
The first day Friday saw the hosting of the round table”Jeu Set et Mixité” dedicated to gender equality in sports. This session was attended by a diverse panel of influential figures in the sporting world. Notable speakers included ETTU Acting President Pedro MOURA ITTF President Petra SÖRLING and FFTT President Gilles ERB. They were joined by world relay champion Muriel HURTIS who won gold in 2003 and secured a bronze medal in the 4×100 meters relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Stéphanie CORNU-MAHUET representing the French Equestrian Federation and a former gender equality leader at the Ministry of Sports also shared her insights. Flora VAUTIER a Paralympic bronze medalist and Fabienne VAGNER a local manager contributed their perspectives on the challenges and successes women face in sports. The discussion was rounded out by Mathéo LARGUIER a coach from the Arles club who provided insights from the coaching side of the sport.
This round table offered an inspiring platform for discussing the strides made towards gender equality in sports while also recognizing the work that remains to be done.
Saturday: France PingTour’s Grand Finale
The event continued on Saturday which marked the final stage of this year’s France PingTour. This initiative organized by the FFTT has been traveling to cities across France since 2013 aiming to introduce table tennis to a broader audience and encourage participation in the sport.
The 2024 edition of the Ping Tour holds special significance as it is part of the “Terre de Jeux 2024” label which links the initiative to the past Paris Olympics. This year the Ping Tour will visit 21 cities bringing table tennis to iconic public spaces. In addition to free play and competitions the tour features activities such as virtual reality table tennis and exhibitions for people with disabilities making the sport accessible and enjoyable for all.
In Aix-in-Provence Saturday’s activities were geared specifically toward women with a particular focus on mixed doubles matches. French para players also took part in an exhibition showing their talent and dedication to the sport. The event concluded with an exciting moment as the presidents of the various federations present took to the tables and played a few rounds of table tennis underscoring the event’s celebration of inclusivity and community spirit.
The France PingTour has proven to be a valuable tool for promoting both table tennis and the Olympic spirit offering people of all ages and abilities the chance to experience the sport in a fun accessible way.
The European Week of Sport event was a resounding success showcasing the importance of gender equality and inclusivity in sports while celebrating the universal appeal of table tennis.
