For the fifteenth consecutive year, the Sports Caravan will travel through the various towns in the department. It will stop this Thursday, February 11th in Mandelieu-La-Napoule (Esplanade Esterel Gallery) and on Friday, February 12th in Carros (Planet Gymnasium). This event is eagerly awaited by the children each year.
Athletics, baseball, boxing, fencing, handball, field hockey, petanque, tennis… Here’s a (small) glimpse of the different sports that will be practiced this year at the Sports Caravan. Intended for children and adolescents aged 4 to 16, this large free sports introduction event has already won over most of the children in the department.
A growing number of children and adolescents attend each year, as confirmed by Philippe Manassero, president of the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee (CDOS 06): “We distribute passports that the children get stamped with each activity. Last year, we almost reached 6,000 passports, it’s huge. We were maybe doing 2,000 ten years ago.”
The Sports Caravan, organized by CDOS 06 in partnership with the departmental council and the departmental directorate of social cohesion, is indeed experiencing some success in the department.
And the children will undoubtedly be there on Thursday, February 11th in Mandelieu-La-Napoule, and the following day in Carros, to kick off this 15th edition. They will have the chance to meet the sponsors and godmothers of these first two stages, Olivier Sanchez (member of the French Men’s Field Hockey Team), Anaisie Bugna (member of the French Women’s Softball Team), and Charline Gartner (member of the French Women’s Softball Team and ECW European Champion).
OGC Nice again in attendance
But children who can’t attend on Thursday and Friday can rest assured, other top-level athletes are expected in upcoming stages, as confirmed by the President of CDOS 06: “I want there to be a sponsor and a godmother for each stage. The children are most delighted when athletes attend, so we are going to implement that.”
This year, among the athletes, we will once again find players from OGC Nice, as the club is a partner of the event. Alexy Bosetti, Eric Bauthéac, Saïd Benrhama, and Albert Rafetraniaina all attended last year. They might even be joined by basketball players this year as the Sharks of Antibes, currently in ninth place in Pro A, are particularly interested in participating in a few stages. A new partnership could soon see the light of day, much to the delight of the children once again.
“OGC Nice sends us 3-4 players for the stages every year as well as jerseys that we give away. The Sharks of Antibes also wish to become partners. It’s beneficial for everyone. For the children first, who can approach and share with professionals. Their presence gives more credibility and visibility to what we offer. Then it’s beneficial for the clubs because these children are potential future clients for high-level sports.” analyzes Philippe Manasséro.
“It’s the ‘baby’ of CDOS06”
The presence of these athletes inevitably offers greater visibility to the event. A well-deserved reward for those who work all year for the proper execution of this event. Because the Sports Caravan represents one of the most beautiful showcases of CDOS06. “It’s our common thread, our ‘baby’. A baby that doesn’t exist anywhere else,” proudly states the president of the departmental Olympic committee.
A baby that many towns want to host this year, which even forces them to refuse some: “It’s hard to refuse certain towns, to explain the reasons. But we try to let everyone benefit and balance things by implementing a turnover. Everyone should benefit from the event, but there are still mythical stages such as Valberg, Menton. Saint-Laurent du Var and Villeneuve Loubet, which are also two beautiful seaside stages.”
“The weather conditions are the focal point of this edition”
And while waiting for the Summer Caravan, which mainly focuses on “the coast, the midland, and the highland”, now it’s time for the Winter Caravan, which aims to be more “focused on neighborhoods”. Although this year, another aspect is being considered: the weather conditions of last October.
For this new edition, Philippe Manassero and his team have chosen to prioritize the towns most affected by the weather conditions. The choice to start in Mandelieu-La-Napoule is thus far from coincidental: “It’s the first time we will go through Mandelieu. We wanted to prioritize the areas where the weather caused the most damage. Starting in Mandelieu, which has suffered a lot, is quite symbolic. We will also go to Biot, Cannet, and other affected towns. The 2015 weather is the focal point of this edition.”
The program for the winter stages has not yet been fully unveiled, but Le Cannet will see the Caravan and its various sports arrive during Easter holidays for the 3rd stage of this 2016 edition.
