Unique Celebration of Tennis, Art, and Culture Unfolds in Paris’ La Courneuve District
UNIQLO Donates Stunning Court to Community, with Surface by Renowned Artist Caroline Derveaux
Global apparel retailer UNIQLO recently hosted the latest event in its series, Around the World with Roger Federer, in the La Courneuve area of Paris. This vibrant, block-party style event featured tennis legend Roger Federer, who led a special coaching session to nurture promising young tennis players from the community. The event was set against the striking backdrop of a tennis court adorned with surface artwork by Parisian artist Caroline Derveaux.
The Around the World with Roger Federer series is part of UNIQLO’s Next Generation Development Program, designed to connect UNIQLO and Federer with communities in major cities worldwide, focusing on supporting and developing young talent.
This edition of the series emphasized community contribution. Held at a school in La Courneuve, a youthful, diverse area undergoing significant transformation just outside Paris, the event highlighted UNIQLO’s commitment to the community. UNIQLO donated the tennis court, complete with unique surface artwork, to La Courneuve. This court, a lasting gift from UNIQLO and the series, is set to become a vital community asset accessible to all residents.
In addition to the coaching session, young players had the unique opportunity to interact directly with Federer during a lively Q&A session. Federer shared his insights on achieving success in tennis and life as a professional athlete and community leader. His thoughtful advice and openness about his experiences over two decades at the top of the sport were deeply inspiring to the community’s youth.
Federer commented, “Paris and its surroundings are among the world’s most inspiring places, and it was a pleasure to visit La Courneuve for UNIQLO’s Around the World series. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with the next generation and hope the event both improved and inspired them. It was a fantastic experience to celebrate tennis, art, culture—and of course, Paris and La Courneuve—with everyone here.”
Séverine Thieffry, General Manager of Fête le Mur, expressed gratitude, saying, “We were delighted to partner with UNIQLO to create this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids of our community to meet and learn from Roger Federer, right here in La Courneuve, near Paris. We are grateful to Roger and to UNIQLO for their contribution to La Courneuve.”
John C Jay, President of Global Creative at UNIQLO’s parent company Fast Retailing, concluded, “UNIQLO is Made for All, so we placed special emphasis on the community and legacy aspects of Around the World with Roger Federer for this visit. It’s a special time for this city, and we felt so welcomed by the community. UNIQLO is pleased to present this beautiful tennis court as a permanent gift, available to all in La Courneuve.”
