The Cheops center was transformed into a stadium to host the school version of the Olympic Games. In two days, 250 students from CM2 and 6ème discovered some of the disciplines represented at the Paris Olympics. The “Haute-Vienne 2024, racing for games!” run by the Departmental Council will run until June 2024. A fun way to raise children’s awareness of Olympic values. To mark this Olympiad, nineteen days will be organized until the Olympic Games. In the end, 39 colleges and 150 schools spread over the whole territory will participate.
It should be remembered that the Departmental Council had refused to pay for the passage of the flame on its land. A decision perfectly assumed by Jean-Claude Leblois, the president of the Department, like several of his counterparts. “The consideration for the 180,000 euros requested from the community was to have the flame only for one day between April and July 2024, remarks the elected official, the marriage between Olympism and money is difficult to achieve. »
Three labels for the preparation of the Games
In addition, the Department has been involved for three years in the Olympic Games with the obtaining of three labels, namely, “Terre de cyclisme”, “Terre de Jeux 2024” and “Centre de preparation des Jeux 2024”. The latter was obtained in partnership with Limoges Métropole for triathlon and open water swimming at Lake Saint-Pardoux as well as with the City of Limoges for fencing and judo at Chéops.
The first two days made it possible to educate 250 students who were supported by sports committees and local associations. Schoolchildren were able to learn handball, basketball, table tennis, judo, rugby, golf, archery, fencing, athletics and disabled sports with blind football. They were able to learn from the stand of the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee on the values of Olympism which are excellence, friendship and respect.
The participants left with a pretty medal made of recycled wood.
The children were delighted to receive their recycled wooden medal given at the end of the events. Like Ilyas, ten years old, educated at the Vigenal school. “It was the first time I did handball and that’s what I preferred because I like team sports. At the Olympics, all the countries will fight to add a medal. Her classmate Esma also left with a smile. “This day was great, it represented the Olympics well and the medal is pretty”.
The red thread of this operation, a relay of 2,024 meters carried out during each day, is very ambitious since the children will have to cover the distance between Paris and Olympia, i.e. 3,280 km. It will end in June 2024 with a festive day at Lake Saint-Pardoux open to the public with the participation of all the children.
