“The Olympic Games will be at home, but not without you.” This Sunday morning, five young inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis came out of anonymity to now appear at the top of the bill: their portraits, made by street artists from the department, are now displayed around the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis). Three years before the 2024 Olympics, a partnership has been officially launched between Visa, one of the main sponsors of the Games, and the Sport dans la ville association, with the ambition of involving as many young inhabitants as possible from 93 to the organization of the future planetary event.
The five young people are part of the association specializing in social and professional integration through sport. “It’s exceptional! I have the impression that what happens to me only happens once in a lifetime, ”enthuses Aminata, 14, a second year student at Bobigny and who was portrayed by Marko 93, the one of the most famous artists in the area. “When I was offered, I accepted straight away, it’s heartwarming,” continues the young dancer. I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful, with these colors. “The Olympics, she is used to seeing them on TV, every four years. “There, it’s going to be right in front of us, very close to here.” “
“The Stade de France, we don’t do it every day …”
This Sunday morning, Samir, 20, still had a bit of trouble to realize. “I was on vacation when I was called to ask me if I accepted that my portrait be done and that it be displayed around the Stade de France, explains this student of Master in Staps, somewhat intimidated by the size of the tarpaulins gradually installed around the enclosure, from this Sunday. I expected a small portrait, not that, he continues. The result is really great. “
The operation was carried out in partnership with the association Le Mur 93, a collective of artists fighting for “urban art of local public utility”. “We are proud to have talented portrait painters in the 93 and it was important to put them forward to represent these young people who are also from the department, appreciates Nicolas Obadia, co-founder of the Wall. And quite frankly, the Stade de France, we do not do it every day, he relishes. There, we can say that we did it once in our life. “
Meet the Insep champions at the end of September
The association managed the entire artistic aspect of the project at the request of Visa, this entity created by the BPCE group (Banque Populaire Caisse d’Épargne). “It’s big capital, teases Nicolas Obadia. But it is important for us to deal with these very large groups who come to us for the Games, to welcome them while being vigilant that creativity and artistic work do not disappear under the promotional message. “
As part of the partnership between the group and the Sport dans la ville association, a big day will also be organized on September 18 at Insep, where 150 young people from Seine-Saint-Denis will be invited to try their hand at multiple Olympic and Paralympic disciplines (archery, basketball, fencing, boxing, badminton, etc.). They will also be able to meet and even train with athletes, including Steven Da Costa, Olympic karate champion in Tokyo, and athlete Sasha Zhoya, who has just been crowned junior world champion in the 110m hurdles.
