Elodie Massalve, new president of the Lot de Tennis departmental committee

The meeting of the departmental tennis committee (Codep) was held in Gramat. Corentin Jean, president of the Gramat club, welcomed the participants. This meeting was chaired by Claude Bonnet, president of Codep, who left office that same day. He will be replaced by Elodie Massalve from the Entente Bretenoux Biars club. “She brilliantly assumed the presidency of the sports and refereeing commission and her mandate as vice-president. I am proud that a young woman is embarking with her team on this new mission.”
We noted the presence of Freddy Terlizzi, departmental councilor, Marie-Hélène Cantarel de Cauvaldor, Michèle Poirrier, deputy mayor of Gramat, joined at the end of the session by the deputy Christophe Proença. Several presidents of neighboring departments and officials of the Occitanie league responded to the invitation. In his moral report, the president highlighted an increase in licenses of more than 10%, specifying however a slight decrease from date to date compared to 2024, particularly among young people. Tennis benefited from the enthusiasm following the Olympics.
In terms of equipment, he recalled the delivery by Cauvaldor of the covered terrain of Souillac, out of a total of 27 in the Lot. “The clubs of Saint-Céré, EBB and Gramat are expecting new achievements from Cauvaldor.” Investments which are entirely within the will and competence of Cauvaldor as explained by Marie-Hélène Cantarel. There was a very good evolution of licenses in 2024, perhaps driven by the enthusiasm for sport and the Olympic year + 10.29% compared to 2023.
Elements highlighted by Jean-Michel Inesta, secretary general of Codep. “If we compare with 2019 a normal year before the declines in numbers in 2020 and 2021 caused by Covid, 2,024 is + 16.9%. This is a great success that must be put into perspective with weaknesses in our rate of Licenses in relation to the population. Regarding Padel, the growing sport, there are only 2 tracks in the Lot. We can work to improve the occupancy rate of the courts and diversify our sporting offer with new disciplines but without courts in winter it is difficult to attract members. This being Tennis with its 2,486 licensees and double the number of players with leisure players, vacationers, participants in events, remains the 2nd sport all disciplines combined, the 1st individual sport in the Lot and undoubtedly one of the most affordable sports . »
The president warmly thanked the committee's partners and all the leaders and volunteers whose “associative commitment is necessary to keep this discipline alive and developing.” A subject on which the MP insisted because “in sports investment we reach a maximum of people in an educational mission; all families are affected by sport; It is an indirect economy on which no restrictions should be made. You are local leaders. » Philippe Belon, president of the Occitanie league, expresses the desire to increase the number of teachers and train educators.
The general assembly approved the reports presented and proceeded with the renewal of the members of the steering committee. The session ended with the presentation of several medals to members of the tennis clubs. Everyone then met at the Jean Dumas de Gramat room for tennis night, a moment of conviviality and good humor.