OREANDA-NEWS. Already a partner of women's tennis and the French Tennis Federation for 22 years, GDF SUEZ is continuing and stepping up this commitment by signing a five-year agreement as an Official Partner of the French Internationals. This is the Group's way of consolidating its commitment to the discipline, while bringing a new international dimension, in line with the Group's presence in more than 70 countries.

This partnership is also another opportunity to raise the profile of the Group's long-term commitment to women's tennis. GDF SUEZ is actually the historic partner of the French Fed Cup team; the Group also has a team bringing together the best French women's players, and a network of around fifteen “Open GDF SUEZ” across France. Finally, GDF SUEZ has been a partner of the “Fete le Mur” association for more than 15 years.

At the signature of the partnership, Valerie Bernis, Executive Vice-President in charge of Communications, Marketing and Sustainable Development at GDF SUEZ, remarked: “We are very proud to be continuing and bringing a new dimension to our support for tennis, and more particularly women's tennis. This new partnership with Roland-Garros for the next five years will contribute to expanding the international scope of the GDF SUEZ brand.”

Jean Gachassin, Chairman of the French Tennis Federation, for his part stated: “We are delighted and honoured to have GDF SUEZ joining us as an Official Partner of Roland-Garros. This international-scale group, with a long-standing commitment to women's tennis, will support our tournament in its quest for ever greater responsibility. Indeed, sustainable development is a sector to which the French Tennis Federation is particularly committed, and the Roland-Garros tournament is of course at the heart of this strategy and the many actions undertaken.”

GDF SUEZ will become the Energy and Sustainable Development Partner of the Paris Grand Slam. The Group will bring all its experience and know-how as an energy company for the benefit of the tournament. The presence of GDF SUEZ will be manifested in particular by educational actions on the theme of Social and Environmental Responsibility.

Rooted in the collective unconscious, Roland-Garros has over time become an essential event for sports lovers, enjoying huge prestige. With 461,000 spectators and 3 billion TV viewers for the 2013 edition, the tournament is secure in its status as a worldwide sporting event of the highest order. Organised by the French Tennis Federation, at Porte d'Auteuil, Roland-Garros is the most followed Grand Slam tournament worldwide.