The first edition of the PADEL BEST EXPO organised by the Italian company BSG lived up to all its promises!
For three days (7-9 April), the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco was the setting for an international event devoted to the world of PADEL… a popular sporting discipline accessible to all.
The inauguration was attended by Secretary of State Yvette Lambin-Berti, Louis Ducruet, President of the Barbagiuans of Monaco, and Mathilde Le Clerc, President of the National Council’s Education, Youth and Sport Committee. Representatives of FIGHT AIDS MONACO were also present (at various times over the three days) with Mrs Christine Barca and Mr Hervé Aeschbach. Part of the funds raised will be donated to this HIV charity, founded and chaired by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie.
Several ephemeral PADEL courts were built for the occasion. One of them was outside, in front of the main entrance to the Grimaldi Forum… and three others were set up in the heart of the Espace Ravel, fully equipped to host the exhibition and the various tournaments on the programme.
A “PADEL FORUM” area was also designed to host conferences at various times during the day… in the presence of personalities and participants in the PADEL BEST EXPO. This was an opportunity for the enthusiasts present to (re)discover the sport and its accessibility, in contact with experts in the field. It’s also an opportunity for players to share their PADEL experiences and stories.
The Results:
In addition to the exhibition, which gave representatives of a number of prestigious international brands and suppliers (material, equipment, etc.) the opportunity to present their flagship products to the public, several tournaments were held over the three days. A way for the organisers to bring together, at the same time and in an exceptional setting, personalities from different backgrounds. All with a common passion… PADEL!
FIP RISE MONACO professional tournament, approved for the CUPRA FIP TOUR 2024:
One stage was scheduled on the temporary courts of the Grimaldi Forum. The qualifiers and first rounds took place at a neighbouring club (Indomitus, Laghet) before the public at the PADEL BEST EXPO could watch the quarter-finals (Sunday), semi-finals (Monday) and final (Tuesday).
The competition was organised by the Italian company BSG, in close collaboration with the Monegasque Padel Federation and its president, Cécilia D’Ambrosio.
Spaniards Daniel Santigosa and Guillermo Collado won the tournament. Already winners on two occasions this season (CUPRA FIP TOUR 2024), they are continuing this good momentum at the Grimaldi Forum by becoming the first champions of the FIP RISE MONACO (the name of the Monegasque tournament).
FIVE PADEL CUP:
As announced, the second edition of the FIVE PADEL CUP took place in the heart of Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum, on the ephemeral PADEL courts. Five competitions were held simultaneously to celebrate the universality of the sport.
With tournaments for CLUBS, YOUNG PEOPLE, a WOMEN’S competition, PADEL WHEELCHAIR and SPORTS VIPs… the Italian company BSG succeeded in demonstrating that the richness of PADEL lies above all in the diversity of the profiles of its practitioners… A strength for this sport, which highlights fundamental everyday values such as inclusiveness and solidarity.
VIP SPORTS TOURNAMENT: With the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Fabio Cannavaro, Dario Marcolin and many others in attendance, this was a hotly contested competition that showed that the competitive spirit is never lost on such legends of sport, and football in particular.
Despite this, the two teams representing the Barbagiuans of Monaco, the group chaired by Louis Ducruet… expressed themselves in the finest of ways by reaching the final of the competition undefeated.
On the one hand, AS MONACO‘s long-standing pairing of Gaël Givet and Sébastien Squillaci. On the other, Manuel Vallaurio and Jordan Klein, already finalists last year at the first FIVE PADEL CUP in Eze.
After a hard-fought match, it was Manuel Vallaurio and Jordan Klein who finally won the tournament, giving the Barbagiuans an extra trophy.
The event ended with a gala evening at TWIGA, Monaco.
This was another opportunity to celebrate PADEL and its participants, with the traditional trophies ceremony. It was also an opportunity to highlight the work of FIGHT AIDS MONACO and FOOTBALL FOR UKRAINE (ambassador: Andriy Shevchenko). The two associations will benefit from part of the funds raised by this first edition of the PADEL BEST EXPO.
Roberta Ceccarelli, CEO BSG / Padel Best Expo and Dario Marcolin, former professional football player and Padel Best Expo Networking Manager, said:
“With the first edition of PADEL BEST EXPO, which took place at the Grimaldi Forum, we consolidated our relationship with the Principality of Monaco by working with a long-term perspective. We have involved football champions who play PADEL on an ongoing basis, such as the two Ballon d’Or winners Andriy Shevchenko and Fabio Cannavaro, and we have organised the second edition of the FIVE PADEL CUP with VIPs and also personalities from the discipline, Monegasque and Italian institutions. We will seize the opportunities that have been created and consolidate over the years this “BIG SHOW” format that sees evenings events with Flavio Briatore Majestas group, just like this first PADEL BEST EXPO. We are delighted.”
The next edition of the PADEL BEST EXPO is already announced for 2025…
