TransPACA Sports Relay Event
In the beautiful PACA Region (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur), the 3rd edition of the TransPACA sports relay event took place on May 17th and 18th, 2024. This exciting event continued the tradition of linking the Aix-en-Provence to Vallauris R&D centers through a series of sporting challenges.
This innovative idea was conceived in 2021 by Thibault, the AViSTO project director, and Jérémy, the AViSTO Vallauris business unit manager. Both Thibault and Jérémy, passionate about endurance sports and pushing one’s limits, envisioned a unique way to connect the two centers. To make this vision a reality, they were strongly helped by Lucie in the planification and organization of the event, as well as several highly appreciated volunteers, forming a very united “tiger team”.
This year’s event maintained the original spirit, featuring 17 diverse stages over two days and involving a variety of sports such as cycling, running, trail running, kayaking, swimming, and hiking.
A Celebration of Excellence Through Sport, Together
The event’s core principle is that the pursuit of excellence transcends professional life and finds expression in physical activities as well. Participants had the opportunity to push their limits and showcase their dedication to both their work and their personal passions.
This event not only celebrates a love for sports but also fosters a strong sense of team spirit, bringing colleagues together across various activities to build deeper bonds and mutual support.
Inclusive & diverse challenges
However, the event was designed to be inclusive, with stages that catered to all levels of athletic ability. While some stages were challenging, like some trails and road cycling stages, others were more accessible to ensure broad participation, such as small hikes in the Quison Canyon. Almost 50 employees took part in this year’s relay, demonstrating the strong spirit and camaraderie among colleagues.
Technology & logictics
To manage the event’s logistics, AViSTO engineers enhanced the developed application based on the participants’ feedback from last year. This app was essential for coordinating the stages, informing participants of their roles, and ensuring everyone knew how to navigate from one point to the next. It played a crucial role in the smooth execution of the event.
Looking ahead to 2025
The success of the three TransPACA relays has set a high bar for future editions. This year, in addition to Aix and Vallauris employees, we had participants coming from Rhône-Alpes (Gaëtan), Serbia (Tamara) and Paris (Radomir, our CEO) regions.
The enthusiasm and feedback we received have already sparked new ideas for next year’s event. The organizers are committed to making each edition better than the last and are eager to welcome more colleagues to join in the fun and challenge.
This year’s event was a testament to the vibrant community at ADVANS Group, highlighting how shared passions and collaborative spirit can lead to extraordinary experiences outside the workplace.