Yesterday afternoon, OGC Nice kicked off the 3rd season of the citizen program “You + Me = OGC Nice” at Charles Ehrmann, organized in partnership with the Departmental Adapted Sport Committee (CDSA06), supporting about twenty children with mental disabilities from the Henri Wallon IME.
Joy, smiles, and good spirits! For three consecutive seasons now, about twenty young individuals facing disabilities have had the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of football alongside OGC Nice players. This year, Olivier Boscagli and Patrick Burner were chosen to be the mentors of this new class, alongside the U17 National team at Nice Gym.
Initiated at the start of the 2016-2017 season by the club and CDSA06, this innovative program allows, “at the pace of one training session a month, to be coached by the U17s – alongside two professional players – while honing their football skills and sharing lively afternoons,” detailed Sébastien Bausset, a teacher in adapted physical activity.
The project benefits from a social inclusion framework, aiming to inspire young people to practice sports regularly while promoting the importance of adapted sports in regular environments.
“Using football and its universal values to motivate young people with mental disabilities to practice sports regularly – which is not the case today – and promoting the importance of ‘Adapted Sports’ in regular environments, knowing that mental disabilities are not accepted but only tolerated.”
Taking over from Arnaud Lusamba and Vincent Marcel – both on loan – Olivier Boscagli and Patrick Burner, five days ahead of a decisive clash against OM, were able to bring smiles and joy to the children present.
“It was fantastic, it allowed our young people to step out of the institution, to meet other young people their age. One hour non-stop is intense for them; they gain technique, desire, motivation, and concentration. They all have smiles on their faces, no hostility, it’s an amazing project,” concluded Sébastien Bausset at the end of the session.
