MIDI LIBRE INFO: the 2025 French pétanque championships will be organized in Millau

Le parc de la Victoire va retrouver son ambiance pétanque des grandes heures. Midi libre – Archives – E. T.

The decision was made this Tuesday, the French men's doubles and women's head-to-head championships will take place in Millau in 2025.

There is inevitably a lot of pride and nostalgia on the part of the fans of the World Pétanque Championship that has made Millau vibrate so much. Obviously, Jean-Pierre Mas, now elected to sports, is one of them, hence his desire to see the elite of pétanque return to tread the grounds of the Parc de la Victoire.

Steps had been taken to be a candidate to host a French championship and the French Pétanque Federation had already come to Millau to scout out the area for this purpose. Tuesday, August 20, the confirmation came and Millau will indeed be the scene of the French men's doubles and women's one-on-one championships. "We are happy because we worked hard and we put together a good file, satisfied the elected Sports representative of the City of Millau. It will be a very nice weekend of pétanque and it marks the occasion, it will be ten years next year since the world championship stopped in Millau."

384 players expected

The elite will therefore come to compete for the national title on the weekend of August 30 and 31, 2025. “A weekend that is not very popular and that will bring people to Millau”, assures the assistant. 384 competitors are expected over these two days (128 pairs, 128 players). Each team will also be accompanied by a delegate. "In general, at petanque competitions, people come because they play, here many come as spectators, repeated the elected official. I think we will plan for around 3,000 seats in the stands."

Validate this first to see further

The opportunity for him to see further after hosting this competition, for the first time in the city of gloves. "If we show that we are capable, we will be able to apply again and why not host other French championships, such as the triplet championship, which is the most prestigious, he explains. In 1991, my dad (Damien Mas, founder of the World Pétanque Championship, Editor's note) had applied to host this competition and it had not taken place, I think that 33 years later, he would have been pleased."

The departmental committee will be responsible for organizing the French championship. The Pétanque joyeuse club will be asked locally to participate fully in hosting these competitors.