PARIS, May 27, 2017 (Press Release)
Once again, the Roland-Garros Kids’ Day charity event took place on Saturday. This star-studded event was a huge success, drawing in around 23,450 spectators who were treated to loads of surprises.
In the morning, as entertainers performed around the grounds, fans were able to try their hand at being umpires and line judges on Court No.6, with the best being selected to officiate a match on Philippe-Chatrier Court in the afternoon. This was followed by the boys’ and girls’ finals for Rendez-Vous à Roland-Garros in partnership with Longines. The winners of this international competition received wildcards for the main draws of the juniors’ tournaments.
As part of “Jouer sur la terre de Roland-Garros” (Play on the Clay at Roland-Garros), an initiative in association with ENGIE and Babolat, spectators were also given a chance to step onto the clay at Court No.8.
On Philippe-Chatrier Court, the afternoon’s festivities kicked off with two matches: Kristina Mladenovic played Yanina Wickmayer, and Richard Gasquet played Benoit Paire. The “Battle des Champions” (Battle of the Champions), led by Michael Llodra, saw tennis players and other sports stars face off during fun-filled sports challenges.
Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Garbiñe Muguruza formed teams, as did Dominic Thiem, Kristina Mladenovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Mischa Zverev, Karolina Plíšková, Simona Halep, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Elina Svitolina, Victoria Azarenka, Marin Cilic, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Fabio Fognini, Pauline Parmentier,Amandine Hesse and Alizé Lim. They were joined by handball players Nikola and Luka Karabatic and Thierry Omeyer, track and field athletes Marie-José Perec and Arnaud Assoumani, Paris 2024 Sports Director and former table tennis player Jean-Philippe Gatien and footballer Alain Boghossian.
At the end of this exciting day, a giant Paris 2024 banner unfurled over Philippe-Chatrier Court, as a reminder that Roland-Garros will be an Olympic stadium if the IOC selects Paris to host the 2024 Olympic Games on 13 September in Lima.
All profits from this charity event will be donated to two associations, Fête le Mur and Tennis en Liberté, as well as French Tennis Federation (FFT) clubs selected to run educational, social and charity activities in underprivileged neighbourhoods, and work in the areas of disabled sport and wellness through sport.
