A partnership that reflects strong values and has been bringing the BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation and the Swiss Open together since 2014

The BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation has reaffirmed its support for the famous wheelchair tennis tournament, which takes place from 13 to 17 July 2021 in Geneva. Since 2014 this partnership has been promoting values that the Foundation holds dear, such as social inclusion, sharing, and encouraging talent.

Several challenges to overcome for the 2021 event

The tournament has faced numerous challenges this year. Firstly, there were changes on the organising team with the appointment of a new Chairman and reshuffle of the General Secretariat. The new team has been working at full throttle for the last few months to ensure optimal conditions for this internationally renowned tournament.

The tournament has also had to leave its traditional site and find another venue that can provide first-class facilities. It will now be held at the Drizia-Miremont Tennis Club, with the Ramada Hotel hosting all the logistics and catering services.

Last but not least is the need to follow Covid measures. Although these have been relaxed to some extent in Switzerland, the International Tennis Federation is imposing strict rules for the safety of all those taking part. Contact between players and outside parties will be limited, affecting the format of the closing ceremony for example.

Bank staff continue to be enthusiastic volunteers

The event has been met with enthusiasm ever since it was first held back in 1988. And fortunately the changes this year have not dampened the mood. The number of players is around the same, and they have come from all over the world. Volunteers will also be there helping out at the bar, in logistics, and in setting up or taking down facilities. Among them are 38 volunteers from BNP Paribas, who will be taking advantage of the volunteering programme promoted by the bank in Switzerland.

The 32nd Swiss Open, a wheelchair tennis tournament, took place last week at the Bois-des-Frères sports centre in Vernier. During the week, the world’s top wheelchair tennis players competed against each other in front of enthusiastic spectators that have grown in number over the years.

Daniel Rodrigues won the men’s singles title, while Joachim Gérard and Laurent Giammartini won the men’s doubles title. Among the women, Japan’s Yui Kamiji won the singles title, while the Dana Mathewson-Kgothatso Montjane duo won the doubles title. Lastly, in the Quads category, it was the South African Lucas Sithole who won the singles gold medal, while the doubles title went to the US-Dutch duo of Bryan Barten and Sam Schroder.

Left – Women’s singles winner Yui Kamiji (Japan)

Right – Men’s singles winner Daniel Rodrigues (Brazil) with Igor Joly, Executive Officer of the BNP Paribas Foundation

In the company of State Councillor Mauro Poggia and other sponsors of the event, Igor Joly, Executive Officer of the BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA Foundation, spoke at the trophy presentation: “This Swiss Open has had some fantastic matches, and is a major sporting event under the banner of solidarity where inclusion and respect are at the forefront”.

In addition to the Foundation’s support, more than twenty BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA employees volunteered to give their time and support this exceptional tournament. Whether working behind the bar, serving spectators or helping set up, the employees helped out to ensure that the tournament went smoothly. Many thanks to them.

Many thanks also to the Swiss Open for this wonderful tournament. We are looking forward to next year’s event!

Every year the BNP Paribas group and We Are Tennis organise an international tennis tournament for its employees for which the final is played at Roland Garros.

This year, 40 employees from BNP Paribas in Switzerland will participate in the national selection for the We Are Tennis Cup (WAT Cup). A chance for our employees to share their passion for tennis.

Tennis, a sport which embodies the values of BNP Paribas

Launched in 2015, the WAT Cup has become a major event for the employees of the BNP Paribas group. Every year, more than 30 countries and nearly 130 employees participate in and share the values of fair-play, responsiveness and performance.

In this fourth edition, 40 employees, from amateur to ranked players, have signed up for the adventure. The teams were formed through a random draw, a new process this year for BNP Paribas in Switzerland. It’s no longer a matter of forming teams with colleagues from your office, but about reaching out to everyone.

One dream: to step out onto the clay court at Roland Garros

 

On Friday, 29 March there will be successive matches throughout the day in the bid to determine which team will represent Switzerland in the International Grand Final which will bring together employees from all over the world.

As was the case in last year’s instalment of the WAT Cup, the International Grand Final will be played on the legendary Court 1 of Roland-Garros during the Grand Slam!

In 2018, the team for BNP Paribas in Switzerland tied for a third-place finish. Will their team spirit and passion make another appearance this year?

 

Almost 50 employees from BNP Paribas in Switzerland participate in the national selection for the final of the We Are Tennis Cup.

A global internal competition

For three years now, BNP Paribas has been organising the WAT Cup, a large annual tournament for its employees. Last year, more than 30 countries participated. For this third occasion, there are nearly 50 employees from BNP Paribas in Switzerland who signed up and made up 12 teams. From amateur to ranked players, they all share the same passion: tennis. On Friday 9th March, there will be successive matches throughout the day to find out which team will represent Switzerland at the international grand finale at Roland Garros. They will be competing against BNP Paribas Group teams from the four corners of the globe.

Tennis, a federating sport for BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is a historical partner of tennis and all employees share the values of fair-play, responsiveness and performance. Since 2014 and through the BNP Paribas Swiss Foundation, we’ve been providing essential support for the Swiss Tennis Open, an international tournament for tennis players in wheelchairs that takes place in Geneva and that celebrated its 30th year in 2017. Every year, our employees volunteer to participate in organising and running the tournament. Be sure to follow our employees throughout the day on the @WAT_Cup and @BNPParibas_CH Twitter accounts.

@WAT_Cup

@BNPParibas_CH