Reunion Island Padel Club abandons FIP Silver: “The new regulations will have victims; financial reality is catching up with us”

Le Reunion Island Padel Club will ultimately not organize FIP Silver in 2026. After a successful first edition, both for the RPC and for the tournament organized at the Champ Fleuri club, the second edition will not take place. A decision officially announced by Michael Grenier , a leading figure in Réunion padel and the main architect of the development of FIP Tour on the island.

While Champ Fleuri is still considering renewing its contract, the decision is final for the RPC. The reason: an economic equation that has become too complicated to maintain with the new rules implemented on the international circuit.

“We don’t organize a FIP to make money.”

For Mickael Grenier, one misconception often comes up when discussing the organization of an international tournament:

“I hear a lot of people think that you make money organizing a FIP Tour. But that's wrong. If you're not a little crazy and especially passionate about this sport, you don't do it.”

The organizer points out that the situation is even more complex when a tournament takes place far from continental Europe.

“When you are far from the mainland, the path is even more complicated, not only in terms of local organization, but especially in bringing the players here. Coming to Reunion Island is expensive, not to mention all the costs on site.”

During the previous edition, organised jointly with Lhoucen, president of Cham Fleuri, the two structures had nevertheless managed to offer attractive conditions to international players.

“In this double FIP that we had organized with Lhoucen, we had managed to lower the bill for the players and put them in exceptional conditions.”

Regulations that weaken decentralized organizations

The president of the RPC particularly criticizes the new regulations imposing an annual fee of 80 euros on players in order to register on the FIP Tour .

He says he understands the principle of this measure, but criticizes its uniform application.

“I completely understand that the circuit is a paid one since it is a professional circuit. But for remote locations like ours, it is very difficult to plan ahead.”

According to him, this measure risks significantly reducing the number of local players involved in tournaments in Reunion, even though they contribute to the overall balance of the event.

“FIPs are not only for local players, but we have to be realistic: they at least allow us to limit losses and find a balance.”

“Fewer local players, less atmosphere”

Mickael Grenier believes that this regulatory change could have significant consequences for the development of padel in certain remote regions.

1. A slowed democratization

“This measure marks the end of the policy of democratizing sport in the islands or in less accessible regions.”

He believes that the current model mechanically favours large, already well-structured European regions.

“Only wealthy regions and those with ample financial resources will be able to offer FIP Tours. It's a real shame.”

2. A "damaged" atmosphere

For the leader from Réunion, the impact is not limited to the economy.

“Beyond the financial aspect, it’s the atmosphere that could be jeopardized. The strength of tournaments in Réunion (and I think many other places) lay precisely in the involvement of clubs, local media, amateur players and the public.”

“When a FIP becomes a real local event, the media picks it up, and the players and the public feel involved. This creates a virtuous circle.”
“By implementing this measure, the FIP is jeopardizing all tournaments, including those in Reunion Island.”

And the consequence, according to him, is immediate:

“I don’t see the point of organizing a FIP with ten local teams and ten international teams.”
“And when you see the atmosphere with the local players, it’s a shame…”

3. The impossibility of building a regional tour

Another major problem: the difficulty now of combining several tournaments in the Indian Ocean in order to make international travel profitable.

“When you organize a tournament so far from Europe, the goal is to offer players a local circuit for two or three weeks.”

The idea was to allow players to participate in several competitions on site, notably between Reunion Island, Cham Fleuri and Mauritius.

“Combining at least two tournaments now seems impossible.”

This is a crucial point, however, to convince international players to make the trip.

Despite his passion for event planning and the development of padel, Mickael Grenier acknowledges that the current context no longer allows RPC to continue the adventure.

“I’m very disappointed because my passion is organizing these kinds of events, but financial reality is catching up with me…”

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.