Le paddle, table tennis, badminton, squash and pickleball join forces to develop their sports through the signing of a Collaboration Charter in Belgium.

Marc Bourgeois, General Director of the French-speaking Association of Padel (AFPadel) and representative of the said Charter, looks back on “this decisive step in the history of French-speaking Belgian sport with the signing of this charter, initiated by theFrench-speaking association of padel. This document constitutes a solid commitment to a cooperation which aims to promote a ethical and transparent governance racket sports, while respecting the independence of each discipline. The charter also aims to optimize resources and strengthen their transparent management, while respecting the value ofbest interests of sport".

interview.

PM: What motivated the creation of this charter of collaboration between your federations?

MB : "Our racket sports have deep roots in French-speaking Belgium, and it is in homage to this history that we are engaging together in a collaborative and respectful project. Our federations share the same vision ofautonomy and respect for the specificities of each sport. With approximately 45 affiliates, these disciplines now play a central role in Wallonia-Brussels Federation, and the challenges we face require sincere and constructive collaboration. This charter marks a major step forward in joining forces while preserving the unique identities of our sports, thus consolidating ethical and transparent governance in the service of our athletes, clubs et practitioners, in accordance with the best interests of sport."

PM: What are the main objectives of this charter?

MB : “The objectives of this charter are multiple. Above all, it is about ensuring that each federation retains its autonomy and its ability to manage its own priorities. Then, we aim for exemplary governance based on the transparency and respect, while maximizing our collective impact through synergies and the sharing of best practices. The idea is to pool our resources to meet the expectations of our sports communities without compromising the identity of each discipline, while respecting the greater interest of sport.”

PM: What areas of cooperation are priorities in this charter?

MB : “Priority areas include the training and skills development, high-level sport and for all, theevent planning, sustainable development,, digitizing, and an optimized financial management. Each federation will participate in the projects according to its priorities, guaranteeing flexibility and adaptation to the specific needs of each sport.”

PM: What specific actions will strengthen the autonomy of each sport while collaborating?

MB : “This charter aims to strengthen the links between our federations without encroaching on their independence. The coordination committee that we are putting in place will ensure the application of shared values ​​and will facilitate exchanges between our federations, so that each discipline can develop in its own ecosystem, and that we work together for the greater good of sport.”

PM: How do you ensure transparency and ethics in this new structure?

MB : “The transparency and ethically are the pillars of this charter. Our federations are committed to exemplary governance where each decision is made in the interest of the members and the values ​​of each sport. The coordination committee will ensure that these commitments are respected and will promote regular exchanges to identify new opportunities and adjust our actions in complete transparency.”

PM: What concrete benefits for clubs and athletes?

MB : “Thanks to this charter, our clubs et athletes will have access to shared resources, such as training, sustainable development and joint events. Each sport will be able to benefit from the experience of the others, which is valuable in meeting the diverse needs of our members. By integrating the strengths of each federation, we propose a model of flexible cooperation which respects the identity of each discipline.”

PM: The question of independence is central to this charter; what do you mean by that?

MB : "THE'independence of each federation is non-negotiable. We signed this charter to ensure that each racket sport is managed by experts, aligned with the values ​​and needs of their disciplines, in accordance with the best interests of the sport.”

PM: The tennis federation is not a stakeholder in this charter; why?

MB : “It is true that the tennis federation has chosen another path, notably by not recognising the efforts made by autonomous federations such as those of pickleball and paddle. However, our charter guarantees our autonomy and governance, allowing each discipline to evolve in its own ecosystem in accordance with its values. The door remains open to the tennis federation, provided that it adheres to the principles of this charter. Their participation could strengthen the higher interest of the sport by unifying racket sports around common values. We believe that the development of these disciplines must remain in the hands of those who know them and serve them best.”

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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