In Sète, an international open-air pétanque event begins on the Cayenne grounds

The years go by and are not the same for the International de Sète. For this 2026 edition, which will start this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. with the veteran tournament, major changes are actually planned. The parties will now compete in the Cayenne car park, under the open sky since the marquee is no longer part of the plans.

Anxieties

On the other hand, one constant remains, namely the concern of the organizer Robert Malzieu: “I’m not optimistic for the future… Without a marquee, for the game as well as for the catering area, we have to hope that the weather is mild. We can no longer continue like this, without structures dedicated to pétanque, without an installation worthy of such an organization. We have already stopped with the seniors, when we offered a magnificent tournament with 512 triplets. For women, the field remains superb, we have world champions, European champions, French champions… We also have a beautiful veteran field. We are recognized, but I am a little afraid that we will arouse less enthusiasm for the future.”

Champions at the rendezvous

For the moment, in the three categories entered, there is full capacity with 230 female triplets, 200 veteran triplets and a good hundred among the young people. Among the women, the level promises to be high, with some very high-flying champions like Charlotte Darodes (double world and European champion, triple French champion), Sandrine Poinsot (2025 head-to-head French champion, bronze medalist in mixed doubles at the Games 2025 World Cup, three times French vice-champion), Cindy Perrot (world vice-champion, European champion and three times French champion) or Mouna Beji (world champion and four times French champion).