Emirates brings sporting stars together at Roland-Garros 2026 celebration
Athletes, executives and media figures gather in Paris
DUBAI/PARIS – Emirates brought together some of the biggest names in global sport during a special celebration held at Roland-Garros 2026 in Paris, underlining the airline’s long-standing commitment to supporting sports around the world.
The event welcomed a distinguished mix of athletes, sporting executives, media professionals and tournament organisers. It also highlighted the breadth of Emirates’ sponsorship portfolio, which spans some of the most popular sporting competitions and teams worldwide.
Hosted at the Emirates Suite, the gathering featured a line-up of sporting figures from football, tennis, rugby and basketball, alongside representatives from major international sporting organisations and tournaments.
Sporting icons
Among the guests were Arsenal FC global ambassador Robert Pires, French tennis star Gaël Monfils, who recently bid farewell to Roland-Garros, and William Servat, Assistant Coach of the France National Rugby Team. Also attending were AC Milan legend Massimo Oddo, former France rugby international Yoann Huget, Brazilian football great Sonny Anderson, and former NBA and French national team player Ronny Turiaf.
Former ATP professional Julien Benneteau served as master of ceremonies for the event, which celebrated both sporting excellence on the field and the contributions of those working behind the scenes.
The celebration also attracted senior representatives from some of the world’s leading sporting organisations and competitions, including World Rugby, AC Milan, Olympique Lyonnais, ATP Tour, SailGP, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and the France National Rugby Sevens Team.
Roland-Garros Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo and Rolex Paris Masters Tournament Director Cédric Pioline were also among the guests hosted by Emirates.
Premium experience
Guests enjoyed the airline’s signature hospitality, featuring multi-course dining, afternoon tea and a Dom Pérignon champagne tasting experience. Emirates also presented its renowned caviar service, accompanied by traditional garnishes including melba toast, blinis, egg yolk, egg white, chives, white onions, sour cream and lemon.
Throughout Roland-Garros, Emirates will continue welcoming guests to its two dedicated hospitality venues at the tournament: the Emirates Lounge in the Hospitality Village and Salon Philippe-Chatrier. Both spaces offer premium viewing opportunities overlooking Court Philippe-Chatrier, the tournament’s centre court.
The event also reflected the scale of Emirates’ involvement in sport. The airline’s sponsorship journey began in 1987 with a powerboat race in Dubai and has since expanded across tennis, rugby, football, basketball, cycling, golf, horse racing, cricket, sailing and Australian Rules football. Today, Emirates sponsors more than 187 teams, tournaments and events worldwide, using sport as a platform to connect with communities, engage customers and bring fans together through shared passions.