As pickleball experiences spectacular growth in France with more than 30,000 regular players, Veolia, the global leader in environmental solutions, is partnering with this rapidly expanding sport to make it a model of sustainability. From January 23 to 25, 2026, the Winter Pickleball Open organized in Marcq-en-Barœul by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) confirmed the enthusiasm for this discipline, which is already exploding in the United States, with Veolia's support as a partner.
The Marcq-en-Barœul Winter Open, organized for the second consecutive year by the FFT and the Hauts-de-France Tennis League, perfectly illustrates this momentum. On 21 courts, the best French and European players competed for three days, with remarkable performances from French talents. Théo Platel particularly distinguished himself with two titles won, while Myriam Enmer reached the women's singles final.
A sport experiencing explosive growth in France
French pickleball is reaching a decisive milestone. In early January 2026, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) obtained ministerial delegation for this discipline, marking official recognition and paving the way for structured and ambitious development. This delegation now allows the FFT to organize and regulate the practice of pickleball throughout the national territory, alongside tennis, padel, and beach tennis.
This institutional momentum is already bearing fruit: approximately 50 FFT clubs offer pickleball activities across France, and this number continues to grow. The Federation is deploying a comprehensive development plan including the organization of national competitions, the creation of an official FFT Pickleball ranking, and the implementation of discovery days in connection with regional leagues, committees, and local clubs. The goal: to structure a solid ecosystem to support the explosion of this practice accessible to all.
A partnership that makes sense
For Veolia, already engaged in racket sports in Europe (tennis, padel), pickleball represents a unique opportunity to support the emergence of a discipline that shares its values: innovation, accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability. This sport, accessible to all, family-friendly and convivial, perfectly aligns with Veolia's vision of sport as a driver of progress and a means of engaging at the heart of communities.
Transforming pickleball into the most sustainable sport
Veolia has a clear ambition: to transform pickleball into a model of sustainable sports in France and worldwide. Drawing on its global environmental expertise, the Group plans to progressively deploy innovative initiatives in service of this emerging discipline:
Responsible Water Management: As a global leader in water management, Veolia supports the FFT with the installation of water fountains at pickleball events and tournaments. This initiative aims to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bottles, a major source of pollution. The experience gained in the United States is compelling: at the Atlanta tournament in May 2025, more than 15,000 single-use plastic bottles were avoided thanks to these installations. Beyond the environmental aspect, these fountains guarantee free and unlimited access to quality water for players, officials, and spectators, thus contributing to optimal hydration of participants while raising public awareness about plastic waste reduction issues. Veolia aims to deploy this system at all pickleball competitions in France, transforming each event into a showcase of environmental best practices.
A strong territorial commitment
Through its support of the Marcq-en-Barœul Winter Open and pickleball events in France, Veolia reaffirms its commitment to territories and local communities. The Group aims to support the development of environmentally friendly infrastructure and practices, while making this sport accessible to as many people as possible.
With the FFT's obtaining of the pickleball delegation and the support of committed partners like Veolia, French pickleball is entering a new era, combining athletic performance and environmental responsibility.
Veolia, also a partner of the PPA Tour in the United States
Beyond its commitment in France, Veolia is the official sustainability partner of the PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association) in the United States, where pickleball is the fastest-growing sport for the fourth consecutive year (19.8 million participants in 2025, +45.8% vs. 2023). During recent tournaments, Veolia's initiatives prevented the use of more than 15,000 single-use plastic bottles. International expertise that Veolia is now putting at the service of sustainable pickleball development in France.
