Video message from patrons of TIP Paris International Tournament (with English translation)

Paris International Tournament (TIP) / 10-13 June 2011
Promoting tolerance and openness in the world of sport


Marielle Bousquet / Age 26 / Sweeper / French national volleyball team / Patron of the TIP 2011

I’ve been playing volleyball for about 10 years, and on the national team for the last 5 years, with a regular spot on the team for the last two years.

Paris tournament announces patrons: top athletes to support the June event

FGG-member Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne has just announced the names of the two patrons of its annual TIP Paris International Tournament. In recent years, the TIP has been fortunate in having leading politicians, including Minister of Health and Sport Roselyne Bachelot and Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë, as patrons.

This year, it's back to sport, to focus on the theme of this year's tournament: "Let's play sport together", with the goal of working with and in mainstream sport to promote the fight against homophobia in sport.

As such, it is highly appropriate that the two patrons represent elite athletes, one lesbian, the other a straight ally. The former is Marielle Bousquet, a top volleyball player, and member of the French national team since 2004. The latter is pole vaulter Romain Mesnil, who was 2nd in the 2006 European Championships, and in the 2007 and 2009 World Championships.

For more info on the TIP, click HERE.