TARASCON-SUR-ARIÈGE, France – A beloved figure in Ariège volleyball history was honored this weekend as teh city of Tarascon-sur-Ariège dedicated its sports facility to Jean-Claude Thiriet, the driving force behind the sport’s establishment in the region. The “Salle des Sports” now bears his name, a permanent testament to his decades of dedication.
Thiriet, who passed away this summer and is laid to rest near corbières, founded Tarascon-Foix Volleyball in 1996, building upon his earlier work introducing the sport to the local MJC in 1974. The renaming ceremony, held prior to a volleyball summit, recognizes not only his administrative leadership as the club’s first president, but also his foundational role as a teacher at the local college from 1973 to 2002, before he transferred to Lycée des Arènes in Toulouse. This tribute ensures his legacy will inspire future generations of Ariège volleyball players.
The inauguration drew a large crowd, including Thiriet’s wife, danielle, son Fabien, TFVB President Olivier Chabrel, Member of Parliament for Ariège Martine Froger, and numerous players spanning several generations. Attendees fondly remembered Thiriet as a dedicated volunteer, a humanist, and a humble leader-affectionately known as the “Dad of Tarascon Foix Volleyball.”
Notably present were veterans from the club’s early successes, including members of the 1999 team that first reached the National level, and also Thiriet’s teammates from the 1970s and 80s. Jean-jacques Duris,who succeeded Thiriet as TFVB president,and Claude Pauly,alongside “Tétène” Garros,René Faux,and Gilles Gonçalves,were among those who gathered to celebrate his life and contributions. The event underscored the profound impact Thiriet had on the Tarasconnais community and the enduring strength of the volleyball family he cultivated.
