I knew the Padel during a trip to South America at the end of the 80s. Having a real passion for this sport, I worked from the beginning of the 90s so that the Padel became known in France and Monaco, the country in which I live and work.
In 1992, I obtained the Federal Diploma category 1 from the French Federation of Padel (FFP). Then I went on a Mission with the FFP, to the World Championship in Seville during the Seville Universal Exhibition as an observation of the French team of Padel. In 1993, I participated, still alongside the FFP in 1er French Open of Padel In Toulouse.
From 1994, I focused on promoting this sport in my region by becoming Founder and President of the Departmental Committee Padel des Alpes Maritimes and South-East representative of the brands of Padel VAIRO AND TOP FORCE.
Then, I became Vice-President of the FFP in 1996 and I organized in collaboration with Mr. Claude BAIGTS, President of the FFP, the 1er exhibition tournament Padel in Monaco under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II.
Finally, I decided to get involved to make the Padel at Monaco. I first founded the Monaco Association Padel Racket in which I am Vice-President. Then, in 2014, I founded the Federation of Padel Monaco in which I am currently Co-President.
Le Padel is a real passion for me and I devote most of my free time to bringing this sport to life in the Principality and in the neighboring municipalities. I speak of "free time" in the sense that the Padel is not my profession. I have been employed at Monaco City Hall for more than 20 years and I therefore juggle my professional life to be able to free up enough time to grant it to my passion. Thus, since 2014, the Federation is proud to be able to present an ambitious activity report.
Everything was financed without any government subsidy.
In 2015 :
In 2016 :
The participation of the Monegasque team in the qualifiers of the European Championship in Basel
In 2017 :
In 2018 :
The Fed continues its fight, and I weigh my words, to obtain approval from the Government so that it can benefit from state subsidies. In addition, its organization itself has been revised and its office redesigned:
Regarding the bureau, a Co-President was elected. This is Mr. Christian COLLANGE, a key figure in the world of Padel :
We can also count on Mr. Franck DAMAR, Vice-President:
This new team is full of enthusiasm and ambition to support the Fed.
The objectives and ambitions are now clearly defined.
As the Principality does not own any land, I remedied this difficulty by creating a partnership with Tennis Padel Club d'Eze Village, at his head Michel Borfiga opened wide the doors of his club which now has four outdoor pitches and which has the advantage of being very close to Monaco. Thus, the grounds of Eze will serve both as a training center for Fédé players but also as a place for the organization of tournaments initiated by the Fédé.
There are several of them :
I am confident for the future of the Fed and Padel at Monaco. However, due to the peculiarities of this very small country, we come up against additional difficulties such as the lack of land or the distribution of the members of the Monegasque team which cannot be made up 100% of people of Monegasque nationality.
Indeed, the Principality of Monaco is a singular state by its size, and it is particularly difficult to compose a team with the distribution method imposed by the International Federation of Padel who wants 75% of Monegasque and 25% of resident for more than three years. As a reminder, the Principality has 37.300 inhabitants and only 8.378 people of Monegasque nationality. You will agree that the task of setting up a team with the distribution method described above seems almost impossible. The only consequence of this method of team composition is to exclude the participation of small States in international competitions. Discussions with the new President of FIP, Mr. Luigi CARRARO have been initiated so that a solution can be considered as soon as possible.
So there is still some way to go but the Padel promises a bright future for Monaco and the Federation of Padel Monaco is more determined than ever to make this sport known and alive.
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Philippe Sassier: a pioneer of padel and a great leader whose restraint is as great as his work is immense!