Neighbourhood Olympics: a tentative start

This inaugural event, organised by the CTOS with the support of the French Ministry of Education, the Local Authority and the State, in collaboration with the neighbourhood councils and the Saint-Martin Cycling Committee, was held as part of the Languages, Arts and Culture Festival. For the young participants, it began with a ceremony commemorating Victory Day on 8 May 1945. However, the discussion session originally planned with the institutions “to put a human face to these organisations” could not take place, as they had to hop straight onto their bikes to make their way to Sandy Ground. Around thirty of them made the journey by bike, whilst the others travelled by bus… The Collectivité had announced that it had ordered a dozen bikes to make available to children who did not have their own, but they were not delivered. The training session organised by the SXM Road Safety Association, which was due to take place beforehand to teach them how to ride a bike and about the necessary equipment, did not take place either. A few minor hiccups – almost to be expected for a first-time event that should grow in popularity over the years – did nothing to dampen the young participants’ enjoyment.

In the end, it was the Saint-Martin Cycling Committee that led the morning’s activities, under the guidance of its president, Gilbert Rousseau. Agility tests, bike control and cycling skills were on the programme in the playground of Aline Hanson School, whilst in the car park, the youngsters completed a series of running laps, in the spirit of a duathlon.

But beyond the sporting activities, these events had, above all, a social purpose, with sport serving merely as a means to bring together young people from different neighbourhoods across the island in a spirit of respect for the values of friendship and tolerance. Indeed, the idea, by promoting social diversity, is to limit turf wars and, by extension, violence. Whilst the aim is to get young people involved in physical activity, the project is part of a wider drive for prevention and awareness-raising. 

Following this initial trial run, a second edition is already in the pipeline, based on the same principle of diversity, and will certainly – although this is not yet official – focus on the theme of ‘learning to swim’ in another neighbourhood.