Olympism Day with the CTOS
Olympic Day is a global celebration of sport and physical activity. It takes place every year on 23 June to mark the day the International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894 and the birth of the modern Olympic Games.
Within the territory, it is the Territorial Olympic Committee of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin (CTOS) that will uphold the Olympic values – solidarity, respect, excellence, friendship, inclusion, fair play – by organising, on 22 June to mark the start of Olympic Day, the Senior Games at Friar’s Bay and an inclusive Fitfoot session in Marigot’s market square; and on the day itself, 23 June, a solidarity and cooperative cross-country run at Elie Gibs Primary School in Grand Case; all three events are completely free for participants.
Adapted physical activity
It is the older generation who will kick off these two days dedicated to Olympic values, with the Senior Games on Friar’s Bay beach on Monday 22 June at 9am. By taking part in the various activities on offer – aqua aerobics, beach games and light sporting challenges – they will be able to push themselves at their own pace, with some getting back into physical activity, and enjoy a friendly atmosphere.
At the end of the day, at 5.30 pm, the market square on the seafront in Marigot will be transformed into a playground for all, with a programme featuring dribbling duels, an obstacle course involving squats and running with a ball at your feet, and a course specially designed for blind football. These workshops all promote adapted physical activity and demonstrate that sport is not exclusively reserved for elite athletes; everyone can take part and everyone should be able to play sport within clubs, regardless of their disability or physical condition.
Promoting civic values
On the big day, Tuesday 23 June in the morning, 120 pupils from Years 4 and 5 will take part in a relay race to collect points to fund a boat trip for children with sickle cell anaemia (an inherited blood disorder), in partnership with the Handynamique charity; a way of pushing themselves beyond their limits, a selfless act for the benefit of others. These are fine values, once again, for instilling the concepts of solidarity and citizenship in the youngest members of the community.
But whilst the young athletes’ legs will be put to the test, their brains will also be challenged as they’ll have to answer a quiz on the Olympic movement… before rounding off this morning of solidarity and civic engagement with a light snack, all together. This, in fact, is the theme of the day: let’s run together for a more united future.
These sporting events will draw to a close on 24 June in Saint-Barthélemy.
