The world of pétanque La Marseillaise, takes place until July 7 in Marseille, in the Borély park.
The event brings together 11,500 players, 20 nationalities and nearly 90,000 spectators on site, to which must be added the viewers.
The public of connoisseurs, can sometimes make think of a Roland-Garros atmosphere, the popular side in addition.
Can we say of the world petanque
La Marseillaise
that it is a
Marseille
Roland-Garros? I admit, I was a little worried at the idea of asking Marseillais their point of view compared to a Parisian event. But after all, it had been raining since this morning, a real Parisian weather. And even if it means taking risks, I first asked Christophe, his meter 90 and his stature as a mover.
“O!
But the rain rinsed your brain or?
“, He first reacted.
"The balls, opened to everyone, Roland-Garros, no," he argues.
It is true that entry is free for the approximately 90,000 spectators expected during the four days of competition.
Trying to defend my point of view, however, he finally agreed: “You have the same respect for the player.
You do not speak when he plays and time stops when the pointer or the shooter throws ”.
The few incidents of last year copiously peddled do not seem to make him lie.
The "player of the century" fails on the first day
Because to illustrate his point, a crowd of a hundred people gathered behind him, forming a "gallery" around the part (do not say match) that the team of Christian Fazzino, monument of this sport, is playing. crowned "player of the 20th century" by the international pétanque federation. The world of pétanque is unique in that during the first rounds, stars and anonymous alike can find themselves playing in the countless fields marked out in the alleys of Parc Borély or on the adjoining racecourse.
“Come on Dad!
», Launches a man who is not at all of his family in the middle of the silence.
Fazzino rolls up the piglet on its last ball.
The opposing team, which leads 12 to 6, has two more boules to finish.
The first shoot, failed, snatches an "Ohhh" from the crowd.
His second hits home and raises clamors.
The champion, uncomfortable on these irregular grounds and with the proximity of the crowd, is defeated from the first day.
“It's not the Pétanque Masters here, it's Marseille!
", Room a spectator.
The player of the century, rarely present at the world of
La Marseillaise
, still gives a few selfies to his admirers before leaving.
"It proves that boules have nothing to envy of tennis"
In the scattered stands of the main field, the children's final of the World Cup takes place this Sunday afternoon. Broadcast live on TV, the event has all the codes of the great moment of sport. In the stands, the straw hats are out as the sun has returned. But don't look for Dior and Gucci hats. Here, they are to the glory of a rum brand or a partner bank of the event, which is not the one sponsoring Roland-Garros.
The game between the young champions is hotly contested. An "Ohhh" rises from the stands while one of the young shooters has just made a "cap", blows a spectator, that is to say when the drawn ball bounces just in front of its target and jumps over it, touching it insufficiently. Encouragement comes at regular intervals, when a player comes forward to throw. Applause rings out at every point. The public is knowledgeable, pétanque here is serious business.
For Claude Luca, official painter of the pétanque world where he has been going for 40 years, this same behavior in the stands between Roland Garros and pétanque "proves that boules have nothing to envy to tennis".
With advantage to the balls that said.
“I have done many sporting events, the Monaco Grand Prix, the Tour de France…” he lists, “but the world of pétanque is totally different.
It's popular, open to everyone, people are mixed and the atmosphere and welcome are friendly.
Here, people are delighted with their abandonment, ”he concludes.
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