The town of Tiercé honored its local sporting community on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Pax cinema, hosting an annual awards ceremony that recognized the athletes, clubs, and volunteers sustaining the region’s athletic life.
The event served as both a celebration of recent achievements and a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the town’s Office of Municipal Sports (OMS).
Established on Nov. 8, 1996, under the leadership of Yves Pointeau, the OMS has grown into a central pillar for local recreation. Jennifer Piau, president of the OMS and adjointe au maire à la vie associative et aux sports, presided over the anniversary ceremony alongside the organization’s board members.
“I have the honor of presenting this ceremony for the first time,” Piau said. “I am all the more happy because this year marks the thirty years of the OMS.”
The event highlighted the scale of Tiercé’s sporting infrastructure, which now supports 17 distinct sports associations and nearly 2,500 registered members. Piau said that the strength of the town’s sports scene relies heavily on the work of its volunteers, who manage the daily operations of these clubs.
“It is essential to congratulate all the volunteers who work to ensure our associations live,” Piau said. “Thanks to all of you, athletes and volunteers, Tiercé shines far beyond its borders.”
The ceremony featured representatives from a diverse range of disciplines, including football, canoeing and kayaking, judo, basketball, tennis, French boxing, fitness, twirling, table tennis, badminton, athletics, Cap Rando, and sport shooting. These groups were acknowledged for their contributions to the town’s athletic diversity and the continued engagement of local residents.
Beyond individual and club awards, the town received formal recognition for its commitment to physical activity. Tiercé has been awarded the “Ville active et sportive” (Active and Sporting City) label for a second time, a distinction that honors the quality of local infrastructure and the municipality’s efforts to promote sport within the territory.
The event was attended by several regional officials, including François Gernigon, député de la première circonscription de Maine-et-Loire; Régine Brichet, vice-présidente et conseillère départementale; David Lagleyze, président de la communauté de communes Anjou Loir et Sarthe; Séverine Chevé, maire de Tiercé; as well as Alain Gastineau, secrétaire général de l’Office régional des sports.
The elected municipal officials were also present alongside Jennifer Piau, president of the Office municipal des sports (OMS).
In her closing remarks, Piau referenced the role of sports in fostering social cohesion, quoting Nelson Mandela: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way that is almost unique.”
