A perfect summer day!

The 13th edition on 20 September brought together more than 800 ITER staff members and their families in Vinon-sur-Verdon for a day of sport, music and socializing. This year’s trail run was a demanding 12-kilometre course with a lot of uphill stretches, while the technically challenging 25 km VTT (mountain bike) race blazed through the gorgeous countryside around the village. 

In Vinon’s freshly renovated square, teams faced off in a quintessential Provencal setting for “pétanque under the plane trees.” The teams gathered to “pointer” and “tirer,” with some of the more experienced players getting out their pocket tape measures to establish, without any room for argument, which boule was closest to the cochonnet (target). And the bouncy castle for children was never uninhabited!

The ITER Games were first launched in 2010 by Bernard Blanc (Assystem), Mayor Claude Cheilan of Vinon-sur-Verdon, and Jérôme Pamela of Agence Iter France to strengthen links between ITER staff, their families, and the host community. Thirteen editions later, the Games continue to grow in popularity, thanks to the commitment of the many local volunteers. A warm thank you goes to Mayor Cheilan, who continues to support the ITER Games taking over the centre of the town every year. And to our sponsors—Daher, Assystem, Momentum, and Apave—for making the ITER Games a reality.