It’s well known: MC Jean Gab’1 doesn’t hold his tongue in his pocket. He proved it again in Pont-Sainte-Marie this Wednesday during the inauguration of the town’s street workout space. “It’s not a prisoner’s sport. Your grandparents, if you are Caucasian, played this sport in the 1800s and 1900s… except in France, because unfortunately, France is not a country of athletes. But before, we called it physical culture! »
The rapper is annoyed that we catalog the gymnastics and bodybuilding that he promotes in a training program (The Galbé Method), especially after his tumultuous life journey. “People need to stop talking to me about prison!” The last time I went there was in 1994! » he exclaims.
“You have good equipment in your little village”
Between a few photos, videos and selfies with the young people of the Debussy district, this real jack-of-all-trades – He has written two books and appeared in several films and series – demonstrated his sporting know-how. French traction champion in 2012, he led a real course for an hour with a few volunteers on the different apparatus installed by the city. “You have good equipment in your little village. Thank you, Mr. Mayor,” he says. “There is everything you need to keep young people busy playing sports and not selling drugs or causing shit everywhere.” Message received by those concerned. “It’s not often that we have people like that in the neighborhood and it feels good. He’s someone who has experience, that’s a real plus for us,” smiles Ausar, who enjoyed sharing a sporting experience with the street workout specialist.
“Not all of us have the opportunity to join gyms”
The site, accessible free of charge in the open air and self-service, was born from an exchange between the town hall and the citizens’ council, of which Sandrine Luxin is a member. “Our representative told us that the State had funds and wanted to do something with them. He suggested street workouts to us,” she says. The involved citizens then made their proposals based on a catalog of equipment. “What we wanted is the possibility of having our children nearby when we play sports, so that they can play nearby and we can monitor them”, hence the construction of a small play area next door. Street workout thus fills a void in terms of sports practice in the neighborhood. “We don’t all have the opportunity to join the gym,” emphasizes Sandrine. “It brings people together and creates connections. People talk to each other, there are houses nearby and people come to see us.”
Enough to break down the barriers between residential areas and the Debussy district, one of the most sensitive and disadvantaged in the Trojan conurbation, which the town hall intends to transform into an attractive district, relying on the voluntarism of local associations and on an urban requalification program. The sports equipment represents an additional step for Pascal Landréat, mayor of Pont-Sainte-Marie, delighted to see that it has not been damaged since its installation. “From the moment the equipment is chosen with the residents, we realize that they are respected,” remarks the elected official. An additional stone in a requalification project which is in full swing. “Three towers and the old shopping center were demolished, which freed up a lot of space. This will allow us to create, why not, educational gardens and orchards, plant trees to provide shade and coolness in summer… and then of course install benches and street furniture,” he concludes.
