Organized for 13 years now, the Caravane du Sport continues to surprise, having to meet an ever-growing demand from municipalities each year.
With nearly 4,000 passports last year, 2014 was a memorable year for these young children aged 4 to 16, introduced to various sports activities.
This year, the caravan will travel along the coast for a tour of 27 stops before an unprecedented nocturnal arrival in Golfe Juan.
For the 14th summer tour of the Caravane du Sport, the principle remains the same: to introduce children aged 4 to 16 to new sports practices different from the famous round ball used in soccer.
An initiative supported by the Departmental Olympic Committee, the main point of contact between sports associations, public authorities, and official organizations.
Philippe Manassero, president of the CDOS 06, emphasizes the importance of the Caravane du Sport. It serves as a social link and gathering tool for all these young children, who do not have the opportunity to get involved in sports activities.
The caravan is important in the approach to sports development. It’s an alchemy between athletes from different sports and a permanent link with other actions.
There is a particular demand from municipalities. We have main stops like Menton, Saint Laurent du Var, but we try to work more and more with smaller municipalities.
The future of upcoming champions
The Caravane du Sport is also about showcasing promising young athletes. The mountain biking club of Antibes presents an important pool of future champions. A source of pride for the president of the sports association.
We work constantly with these young people. Clara, our champion, just advanced to the minors and will participate in the French championship. The caravan is a great opportunity to present our future champions. We currently have about a dozen girls in the club, with Clara and Clarisse standing out.
Philippe Manassero follows the same guiding principle and emphasizes in his speech the importance of highlighting these young ones, future representatives of their sports in the coming years.
I wish to highlight emerging young athletes with our junior Justine Tonso, world champion of ski mountaineering.
It’s a tool for them to show themselves to others. And it’s also a way to motivate themselves outside the family environment.
Animations and demonstrations
For nearly an hour on the forecourt of the Alpes-Maritimes General Council, the sports clubs of Karate (Nice elite), Judo, Gymnastics, and Boxing performed demonstrations on a “tatami” set up for the occasion.
A show observed by Alexy Bosetti, Jerome Ardissone, and Patrice Barattero, who were already present last year. These three high-level athletes have renewed the experience this year to their great delight.
They called me two days ago to participate in the caravan. I participated last year, and it is a very good initiative implemented. It’s important for children to be able to discover new activities confirms Alexy Bosetti, player of GYM.
An opinion shared by Jérôme Ardissone (triple world champion of Full-contact).
For children, it’s a very good approach. They can discover several sports to get an idea of their future path. Initially, I didn’t know the principle of the caravan. I joined last year, and I’m happy to return. The children have a good day, being well supervised. It’s a good initiative.
For Patrice Barattero, participant in ParaSnowboard, it’s an opportunity to highlight sports and disability.
Young people must make a decision before September to be able to enroll in a club. It allows them to have different approaches other than soccer. Even being different, we have values, and we can succeed in sports despite our handicap. We wish to give a good image, and it’s important to be represented today. (presence of Jordan Minglis, French champion of adapted judo and swimming.
An unprecedented initiative this year on the route
Nearly 50 children from the Moulins neighborhood will have the opportunity to go away for a few days thanks to the Caravane du Sport, to discover new sports activities.
We will charter a bus to take about fifty children from Moulins. This is an action I wanted to implement in 2014. This year, it’s finally coming to fruition. We have a mission of “living better together.” And who better than sports can respond to this idea? It’s a joy to be able to make them happy. They don’t always have the chance to go out or do activities. We will change neighborhoods every year to benefit as many children as possible.
