Seventeen residents aged 16 and older have enrolled in a newly launched wellness sports program in Saint-Barthélemy, marking an encouraging start for an initiative designed to ease citizens back into physical activity.
Assessing Physical Capacities at the Village Pierre-Rabhi
The wellness initiative kicked off on Thursday, September 17, when participants gathered at the village Pierre-Rabhi to undergo a baseline physical assessment administered by the departmental Sport pour tous committee.
Among those tested was 62-year-old Catherine, who manages chronic pain through regular balneotherapy sessions due to a physical disability. Following her assessment, she expressed surprise at her results. Testing at 56% of standard norms provided an unexpected boost in confidence, she noted, explaining that chronic illness often creates psychological barriers and leaves individuals uncertain about where to seek safe physical outlets.
Exploring Badminton, Taïso, and Pilates Workshops
Following the initial evaluations, participants moved to the Gemmetrie venue last Friday to test a diverse array of adapted sports sessions. Alongside ten other attendees, Catherine joined workshops that included badminton, taïso hosted by the local judo club, nordic walking with the athletics section, general motor skills development via fitness training, and pilates organized by the Office bartholoméen des Sports (OBS).
Dominique, a former childcare assistant who faced three separate surgical procedures in 2025 after enduring severe joint degradation in her knees, hips, and a shoulder, enthusiastically endorsed the badminton workshop upon finishing. Having stayed active earlier in life before injuries sidelined her, she remarked that the session successfully rekindled her motivation to move.
Municipal Goals and Two-Month Training Blocks
Organizers have structured the program to span a two-month trial period, culminating in individual follow-up evaluations where participants can measure the physiological and psychological impacts of regular exercise. Alongside peers like 74-year-old Marc and 73-year-old Catherine, attendees plan to finalize their club registrations for the upcoming weeks.
Mickaël Crémont, director of the VPR, reported that the free initiative drew 17 registered participants out of 30 available slots, with an average participant age of 54. Marie-Thérèse Burr, the elected delegate for health, confirmed that the local government intends to evaluate the current experimentation with the goal of sustaining the wellness sports program into the next year.
Local Club Infrastructure and Available Capacity
Behind the scenes, the expanding network of wellness activities relies heavily on community infrastructure. Jacques Beauvais, president of the Office bartholoméen des Sports, identified eleven local associations in Saint-Barthélemy capable of hosting wellness sports initiatives, translating to an estimated capacity of 200 places for residents.
In addition to the clubs involved in Friday’s trial sessions—such as the judo and athletics organizations—Beauvais noted that other local entities including the Amicale laïque, Loisirs et créations, local basketball groups, adult maintenance gymnastics, qi gong, lam son, and table tennis clubs contribute to the broader municipal sports network.
Worth a look
