What if you (re) get into sport with the prospect of the Olympic Games which will make Paris the capital of the world in a little over three years? We are not talking to you about starting a preparation to participate and go and win a medal. Paris 2024, on the other hand, could encourage you to put on sneakers, put on a T-shirt, reconnect to sport and physical activity whether you are an able-bodied person or with a disability.
This is one of the major commitments of the organizing committee, notably through the Terre de Jeux 2024 label and the 148 cities of the Action coeur de ville network. This allows players in the sports movement and local authorities to get involved in the Olympic and Paralympic adventure by putting more sport in the lives of the French. “We want to get the inhabitants of their territory moving, and this involves, for example, a recent operation that we call Active Design», Specifies Marie Barsacq, Impact and Heritage director of the organizing committee.
Fun, colorful and accessible equipment
The concept was born in North America over thirty years ago. “It consists of developing public spaces and buildings to promote daily physical and sports activity,” continues Marie Barsacq. Of course, this already exists: there is street furniture for playing sports, but these facilities are generally occupied by a certain part of the population. We want the Active Design be accessible to all. ”
In these two words, “Active design”, the first is important: the public and free facilities soon to be put in place in the cities of the network will be colorful, visual and fun. For example, they will mark the path to go to school, draw a hopscotch here, a running lane there on a sidewalk to sprint in the middle of the street. Anything that can encourage movement in joy and good humor to curb sedentary lifestyle, obesity and the development of long-term illnesses will be welcome.
Integrate disability into sports practice
“Many people with disabilities also want to practice a physical activity, continues the Director of Impact and Heritage. But they cannot because, in the clubs, there is not always a specialized and necessary educator. In IMEs (Editor’s note: medico-educational institutes), it’s not easy to develop the practice either. In this perspective, we are carrying out an experiment in Paris to train managers in multi-sport clubs so that disability is integrated into sport. ” These operations, of course, are not destined to disappear the day after the closing ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. They will survive the Olympics.
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
