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Roland Garros/French Open and BNP Paribas, a shared passion

2009 French Open official site

Affiche 2008
It all began quite innocently back in 1971 - long before tennis enjoyed its current wave popularity, energized by the likes of Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Yannick Noah. Pierre Simon, at the time in charge of sponsorship at BNP's central operations unit, decided to pursue his career in banking at the Porte d'Auteuil stadium in Paris. Through its Auteuil branch, BNP already managed the accounts of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), but had neither a temporary branch inside the stadium nor any part in official sponsorship. Banking activities began with a trailer in the stadium, with a single window, which in 1987 became a full-fledged branch in a shopping gallery.



A solid partnership began to take shape in 1973. The two parties signed a three-year renewable contract. The bank's logo started to appear on the court backstops, and its corporate colors were sported by the ball boys and girls.



Over and above its sponsorship, the Bank provides loyal and imaginative banking services. It stepped in when the FFT required support for the expansion of the stadium during the 1980s, as well as for construction of the central court and the creation of the National Tennis Training Center to provide coaching for France's rising stars.

BNP Paribas is pursuing this partnership and involving the general public by participating in the selection of ball boys and girls for the French Open/Roland Garros grand slam tournament.

With some 30 years of support for the French Open/Roland Garros tournament, BNP Paribas unquestionably ranks as one of the event's most loyal corporate sponsors.

Roland Garros/French Open 2008