TotalEnergies, fostering connections with the region through sport in Pau

TotalEnergies is a fervent supporter of sports both in France and abroad, and champions popular disciplines through sustainable partnerships, whether major sporting events or actions on the ground aimed at the local populations.

This endorsement is also a way for the Company to strengthen its roots in the regions where it is established. In Pau, TotalEnergies has been supporting stakeholders of the sports world for many years, particularly in rugby and local organizations.

From May 14 to 17, this commitment took the form of an event, the Village des Sports (the Sports Village), an initiative borne by the Section Paloise and the Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées (Pau Béarn Pyrenees conurbation), designed to give the general public an inside view of sports practice.

“By offering a free, open, multisport event, TotalEnergies’ aim was to share its passion for sport and create an opportunity for people to meet up, while at the same time discovering, practicing, and sharing sporting activities. Our iconic sports include rugby of course, as the Pau supporters of the Section Paloise well know, as well as football and cycling. These disciplines were the stars of the event and the wide variety of activities on offer ensured that no one was left on the sidelines, whatever their age,” explains Bastien Azabant, Head of Governance and Sponsoring.

Rugby, the prop of TotalEnergie’s commitment to sport in Pau

Rugby holds a central position in TotalEnergies’ commitment to the Pau area. The partnership between the Section Paloise and the Company goes back many years, and the latter is a stalwart supporter of professional and amateur teams, endorsing practice, training, and transmission of the sport’s values.

This long-term relationship was epitomized at the Village des Sports by the presence of professional players, by activities introducing people to rugby, and by an initiation to wheelchair rugby as part of an inclusive approach. A tangible reminder that sport can bring people together. Both children and adults, more or less athletically inclined, lined up all day to take the time to put themselves in the place of the athletes in wheelchairs. Bearny, the mascot of the Section, also joined in the game.
 

Football and cycling, accessible disciplines

In addition to rugby, football and cycling were also given top billing. These disciplines hold a prominent place in the region’s sporting tradition and accessible formats were on offer at the event: a one-on-one football arena, workshops to learn how to kick and throw, and various activities centered on cycling.

There was no lack of opportunities at the Village des Sports for the public, sporting clubs, and partners to get acquainted. Another star of the show on Sunday afternoon was Georgio, Pau’s favorite artisan ice cream maker, and his famous ice cream truck! 
 

A project supporting local dynamics

Set up at the city center, the Village des Sports furthered the initiatives conducted locally to encourage participation in sports, among young people in particular. It completed the current offer carried by the city and the conurbation.

Nathalie Cabanne, the senior deputy to the new Mayor, Jérôme Marbot, and responsible for sports, declared:

“The Village des Sports clearly illustrates our goal, which is to make sport accessible to all and to make use of the public space to promote practices that bring people together. By offering a wide range of activities for free at the heart of the city, this event completes the actions that we carry out all year round for the inhabitants of Pau, for young people in particular. And what better way to end the event than by broadcasting the France vs England match of the Women’s Six Nations Championship? It was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on women in sport, to share a popular and convivial moment, and to further enjoy the collective momentum fostered by the values of sport.”

This speech underlines the role played by the Village des Sports in the regional dynamics driven by public and private stakeholders for the local populations.

“Through this project, TotalEnergies reasserts its attachment to Pau and its region by supporting actions that strengthen the bond between sport, the population, and local stakeholders. The Village des Sports is more than a one-off event, it illustrates a way of doing things: supporting popular disciplines, endorsing clubs and local communities, and contributing to make sport a means for people to meet and ensure cohesion across the region. We’re very happy that the second stage of the tour passing through French cities took place in Pau,” rounds off Jérôme Poncet, the TotalEnergies Site Manager in Pau. 

With Place des sports, TotalEnergies will maintain its momentum following this second stage by continuing its tour of the different regions: the first step will be in Beaune, followed by Pau, Haguenau, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Bordeaux (Rugby Seven international circuit stage), Marseille (semi-finals on the forecourt), Poitiers, Nevers, and so on.