A day of fun and discovery of Olympic and Paralympic sports brought together about a hundred students.
As part of the “Olympic and Paralympic Week at School”, the Ariège school sports team introduced CM1, CM2 and 6th grade students from Lavelanet and the surrounding area to different Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
And as they say, “together we are always stronger”. This partnership proved it. It brought together the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee (CDOS), the Sports Union of Primary School Education (USEP), the Departmental Committee for Sports of Persons with Disabilities (CDH 09), the National School Sports Association (UNSS) and 'National Education.
Thus, at the municipal multi-sports center, about a hundred schoolchildren and students participated alternately in various research workshops led by sports professionals.
Thanks to Agnès Redon, the reference technician of CDH 09, handball conquered schoolchildren to such an extent that the workshops proved to be “too short” for some.
Frédéric Parent, president and coach of Boxing Olmes Associations, and his young champion, Anna Rodriguez, introduced the students to boxing. The discovery of this discipline was unanimous, confirming on the one hand the good choice of the organizers of this day, and on the other hand the dynamics shown within the Olmes country club, which has 140 members.
Another discipline very popular among students is petanque, which is still a popular sport.
Finally, the archery workshop, led by Lauriane Miquel, development agent at CDH09, highlighted the everyday difficulties of people with disabilities in wheelchairs, even outside the context of sports.
“The goal is to present sport in the Olympic spirit and values and to look at disability from a different, benevolent perspective,” explained Cyril Balondrade, development agent within the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee. “Another aim is also to establish a bridge between the school children and the sixth form students.”
This day, organized in the desired spirit of the Olympic Games, was crowned with success until the final ceremony, the highlight of this gathering: a “flash mob” with an infectious song by Shakira. The choreography was designed and staged by Laetitia Castaing, the delegate of the USEP department, in charge of the development of national projects, accompanied by Juliette, the head of all sports at the USEP, and Kaïne, a civil service volunteer.
Too short, but a great moment of joy and satisfaction.