PSG launches ‘Legends Club’ to honour iconic players who have passed through Paris
Paris, February 11: PSG never forgets its legends. The club has a young but rich history, shaped by several great players who have worn the red and blue jersey for over 50 years. To pay tribute to the many emblematic figures who have passed through Paris, the club’s directors have decided to launch the ‘Legends Club,’ an exclusive programme designed to honour and strengthen the connection with the players who have left their mark on the club’s history. A total of 236 personalities, including 179 male and 57 female players, are involved in this project, which is designed to highlight their achievements and the impact they had during their Parisian careers. The selection criteria are simple: only players who have played more than 50 matches and have officially retired, or those who have left a significant mark on PSG’s history, are eligible. Photo credit: Paris Sait-Germain This tribute to the great names who have passed through the PSG ranks comes in the form of an all-black card, which former midfielder Pierre Ducrocq revealed on X this weekend. A letter of thanks from President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi also accompanied the card. The club boss is behind this programme, which aims to honour the past, showcase Parisian legends, and celebrate those who have helped make PSG a stronghold of French and European football. Another key objective is to use the club’s history as a foundation for its future development. Photo credit: Paris Sait-Germain The ‘Legends Club’ members will also enjoy several benefits, including privileged access to matches, the Poissy Campus, seminars, and discounts on PSG products. They will also contribute to the club’s activities by engaging with young players at the training centre and serving as international ambassadors for commercial operations. These legends will have the opportunity to reunite at various galas and tournaments, where they will again wear the red and blue shirts that earned them the admiration of the fans. Please see the original article by Le Parisien here.
Premier Padel unveils 2025 Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour calendar
LONDON, DOHA – 23 December 2024 – Premier Padel, the leading official professional padel tour worldwide, today announced its eagerly anticipated 2025 calendar – with 24 tournaments across 16 countries, following its successful first season as a global tour. The 2025 season will feature at least 7 new locations including Miami, Buenos Aires, Cancun and Germany for the first time – significant additions across both the North and South American regions and Europe. The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour will start on 10 February 2025 – opening with the Riyadh Season P1.There will be two major new highlights in the 2025 calendar in March, with the tour travelling for inaugural tournaments in Miami and Cancun –held at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Cancun – before returning to Chile for a second time. Following a short return to Europe for tournaments in Belgium and the heartlands in Spain, the tour will make its way to Paraguay in May before debuting in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires. Europe will host several tournaments between June and October – including a mid-season break scheduled in August – with a return to several recognised countries and locations including Italy (Rome, Milano), Spain (Valladolid, Malaga, Madrid), France (Bordeaux, Paris*) and The Netherlands (Rotterdam). The European leg will also include the first tournament in Germany. The Tour will then return to the Middle East for tournaments in Egypt (NewGiza) and the UAE (Dubai) with the regular season concluding with the Mexico Major at the end of November. The International Padel Federation (FIP) will host its first edition of the FIP Intercontinental Cup in August, the equivalent of the Ryder and Laver Cup – ahead of the planned mid-season break – and FIP World Cup Pairs tournament in November. In terms of the four Majors, the 2025 season will see the world’s best players return to Qatar (14-19 April) and Italy (9-15 June) for two Major tournaments in the first half of the year, with France (8-14 September) and Mexico (24-30 November) hosting the remaining Major tournaments. The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals will return to Barcelona in 2025 for its second edition from 8-14 December. The top 16 ranked players in the FIP Race Ranking – in both the men’s and women’s competitions – will qualify for the Premier Padel season finale. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Premier Padel, said: “We are very proud to announce Premier Padel’s fantastic 2025 calendar, as we continue to propel the sport to new frontiers and take all aspects of the professional tour to the highest level. The 2025 calendar – developed in partnership with players and partners – shows our clear commitment to accelerate the global growth of padel and provide new and existing fans and players with an incredible experience of the Tour for many years.” Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation (FIP) and Vice Chairman of Premier Padel, said:“This is another thrilling chapter for FIP and Premier Padel and the sport of padel as a whole. Our 2025 calendar brings professional padel to new and established markets and a more efficient schedule for players and fans. This magnificent calendar supports the exciting global growth of padel as one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing sports and is another milestone in our bid for Olympic inclusion.”
Premier Padel hosts latest edition of sporting “Legends” tournament DURING Qatar Grand Prix 2024
Doha, 1 December 2024 – Premier Padel, the world’s leading official professional padel tour, hosted the latest edition of the Premier Padel Legends Tour, bringing together some of the world’s biggest sporting VIPs to play padel in iconic places across the globe. At the invitation of Premier Padel and PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the November 2024 edition held matches at the spectacular Waldorf Astoria hotel in Lusail, during the highly anticipated 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. The star-studded event – with guests including Novak Djokovic, F1 drivers Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, San Antonio Spurs basketball player Tony Parker and Italian football player Marco Materazzi – brought together iconic athletes from across the world of sport, high-profile business leaders and local professional padel players to experience the world’s fastest growing sport and showcase their skills on court. The Premier Padel Legends Tour started in 2022, travelling around the world to bring together the biggest sporting VIPs around padel. There will be many more such events to come from 2025 onwards. This extraordinary event is the latest innovative exhibition tournament by Premier Padel – following a stunning match onboard the iconic Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier in Genova harbour (Italy) and the historic match at the Grand Egyptian Museum against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza. These events further demonstrate how Premier Padel is driving the sport’s global expansion and advancing the journey towards Olympic Games inclusion. Attendees at Premier Padel Legends Tournament and week-long event included:
Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has now embraced the sport firsthand with Premier Padel
Tennis icon Novak Djokovic – who recently highlighted padel’s rapid growth and its impact on tennis – has now embraced the sport firsthand with Premier Padel. He joined Premier Padel Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi for a padel match at the Premier Padel courts in Doha, once again showing the sport’s dynamic appeal. This also follows Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell, Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri all taking a break from the track to visit the same Premier Padel x Qatar Airways courts in Doha ahead of the Formula 1 Qatar GP.
Visit Qatar and Msheireb Properties to Host QatarGP activation at Msheireb Downtown Doha
Doha, Qatar, 26 November 2024 – Visit Qatar, in partnership with Msheireb Properties, Lusail International Circuit, announced the launch of a QatarGP activation at Msheireb Downtown Doha’s iconic Barahat Msheireb, coinciding with the FORMULA 1® QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2024. The activation will operate from November 29 to December 1, offering visitors a vibrant venue to experience the excitement of Formula 1 racing in the heart of Qatar’s capital. The three-day activation will feature live screenings of all racing sessions, including practice runs, qualifying rounds, the sprint race, and Sunday’s main event. Designed as a family-friendly destination, the activation will complement the on-track action at Lusail International Circuit with interactive activities and entertainment. Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdullah, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Msheireb Properties, said: “Following the remarkable success of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Fan Zone at Barahat Msheireb, which attracted thousands of football enthusiasts, we are delighted to once again transform our sustainable downtown into a hub of sporting excitement. The QatarGP activation builds on our proven track record of hosting world-class entertainment events that bring communities together in the heart of Doha.” Mr. Jassim Mahmoud, PR and Communication Director at Visit Qatar, said: “Together with our esteemed partners at Msheireb Properties and Lusail Circuit we are delighted to bring the QatarGP Activation to life, offering an exciting opportunity for everyone to enjoy the full Formula 1 experience right here in the heart of Msheireb. This fan zone is designed to be the ultimate destination for fans, residents and visitors alike, to come together and fully immerse themselves in the thrilling world of Formula 1.” Visitors to the activation will experience the thrill of Formula 1 through state-of-the-art racing simulators and an engaging RC car track. The venue will showcase an impressive display of classic and modern racing cars, while a dedicated entertainment area will feature live DJ performances throughout the evening. The activation’s design incorporates both lounge and picnic-style seating areas, creating a comfortable environment for families and friends to enjoy the races together. Entry is free for all visitors, and the QatarGP activation will be open daily from 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM, with live screenings starting from 4:00 PM. The race schedule includes Practice Sessions on Friday, November 29 (2:30 PM – 7:30 PM), Qualifying and Sprint Race on Saturday, November 30 (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM), and the Main Race on Sunday, December 1 (from 8:00 PM).
