“We are moving up. For our 23rd edition, the tournament goes from ITF 3 (International Tennis Federation) to ITF 2 (1 being the highest grade),” rejoices Stéphane Goudou, the competition director. More concretely, the Loiret Open Paratennis becomes the 3rd major tournament in France. It is among the qualifying events for the Paralympic Games which will be held in Paris from August 28 to September 8, 2024. “We will welcome around twenty athletes who will undoubtedly participate in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Seventeen nationalities will be present,” announces Stéphane Goudou, happy to have succeeded, thanks to the partners, in doubling the financial rewards given to the players of the tournament. This year they amount to $28,000.
The competition will welcome nearly 600 children over 5 days, twice as many as last year, to participate in an educational project to raise awareness about disability. They will be able to discover the wheelchair and its handling through sporting activity scenarios, and interact with players from the tournament. Young people from the Neuville Medical-Educational Institute, with disabilities, will join the ball collector team.
Sophie Vouzelaud, first runner-up to Miss France 2007, hearing impaired, is the godmother of this 23rd edition. She will be there on Friday. While Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) is expected on Saturday afternoon. Entry to the tournament is free: “It’s a choice because we want a large audience to come and encourage the athletes,” explains Stéphane Goudou.
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