ITER Games
The winning combination
10 Sep 2018
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Shira Tabachnikoff
This year's ITER Games, held for the 8th consecutive year, offered 600 participants from the ITER community and neighbouring towns the opportunity to compete in a number of sports events, including tennis, kayaking, trail running and mountain biking.
Participants of all ages enjoyed a variety of sporting events on a beautiful end-of-summer day in Provence.
The pétanque and football tournaments were intense, with players from all over the world ... some playing for the first time, and other old hands who could teach novices all about technique.
The ITER Games are becoming a popular tradition for ITER staff and contractors to mingle with the local communities, get to know about the various sports associations they can join, and have a relaxing Saturday afternoon with colleagues, friends and family.
The village of Vinon-sur-Verdon kindly offers its main square for a communal lunch with an entertaining award ceremony and an enthusiastic welcome from Mayor Cheilan. Healthy competition, Provençal sunshine, and good food in a beautiful setting—a winning combination for another successful ITER Games.
Football (soccer, for some) was a popular event this year with eight teams competing. The ITER Desperados won the tournament by the skin of their teeth ...
Pétanque is enjoyed in villages all over Provence. At the ITER Games pétanque tournament on 8 September, technique and style were on display.
The ITER Documents Team has obviously been practicing!
Vinon's beautiful courts were the site of the tennis tournament, with champions both young and old showing their skills on court.
ITER families seemed fascinated by the sensation of flying high above the Tokamak Complex in ITER's virtual reality tour. For some, once wasn't enough!
Greg De Temmerman, from ITER's Science Division, demonstrates how to make a plasma using a few simple tools like a microwave and a lightbulb. Some of the children were already well informed about plasma, fusion and ITER ... thanks to their moms and dads!
ITER Games ... or how to offer fun for the whole family.
ITER is one of the most complex puzzles in the world. The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) has made a puzzle of the machine to help people understand how the various components fit together. It's not as easy as it looks!
Under the large tent of the Family Village, there was one stand dedicated to teaching participants all about the ITER Project.
The current is on!
It's not easy manoeuvring around the pole given the current on this part of the Verdon River!
Cyrille Hours from APAVE, who has organized the ITER Games for eight years running, awards the trophy to the champions who made great time on their 11 kilometre run and are still smiling. Also pictured is the mayor of Vinon-sur-Verdon, Claude Cheilan, centre; Agence Iter France director Jacques Vayron (far left); and ITER Internal & Stakeholder Relations Manager Shira Tabachnikoff (second from left).
A plentiful lunch, offered by the ITER Organization, gave athletes a chance to recharge after a morning of sport. Prizes were handed out to the champions under the beautiful plane trees of the Provencal village just next to ITER, Vinon-sur-Verdon.