On June 12, 2024, the city of Nice officially launched its “Fit Family” program. The program is based on a fun way for parents to engage in sports with their children.
The “Fit Family” program is officially launched by the health and sports center of the city of Nice. Parents and children are invited to come do sports together for only 2 euros. The session takes place in the parks and gardens of the city. It lasts an hour and is supervised by professional coaches.
“Nice en forme”, what is it?
It’s a program aimed at youth and families to encourage them to engage in physical activity. The sessions cost 2 euros per adult and are free for children between 6 and 16 years old. The goal is to show that physical activity can be fun and that you can do sports without realizing it. For Barbara Prot, city councilor in charge of prevention and health education, she does not hesitate to remind the benefits of physical activity: “it has many impacts on the body and also on the mind since it helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and diseases such as cancer or diabetes, for example.”
The city of Nice aims to encourage all social categories to engage in sports by offering attractive rates. There are also five programs with different intensity levels: Fit Circuit and Fit Dance at moderate intensity, Fit’Relax, Fit’Back, and Fit’Soft at low intensity.
Three locations are available:
- City Stadium Falicon: 13 Boulevard Comte de Falicon
- Parc du Ray: Avenue Ernest Lairolle
- Stadium Vauban: 18 Rue Maréchal Vauban
A moment of sharing for young and old
A moment of sharing, that’s the effect sought by Barbara Prot and the city of Nice: “It’s a real moment of sharing, they will really be in the fun, they will have fun together, they will laugh together. I am convinced it will strengthen family bonds.” Families come from very different social backgrounds but don’t hesitate to laugh together. Everything is set up for a good time, and the goal is not to do intense sports. The coaches don’t hesitate to play music, and there are some breaks for drinks.
Several activities are offered, such as warm-ups at the start and end of the session, athletics, ball games… Children also participate in directing these activities, an initiative dear to Naïka Benoit, a sports coach: “It allows children to see that they are capable of managing a group. They therefore have responsibilities in the session, and it is important for them.” As for the children, they are enthusiastic about directing certain parts of the session. Sometimes the competitive spirit of some is also awakened when there are team activities. Parents do not hesitate to join the opposite team of their children and create a little competition among themselves, always in a good-natured spirit.
At the end of the session, parents and children seem delighted with this initiative, like Axelle, who came with her two children: “Doing sports with your children is not always easy, so setting up classes is great.” Her son Sacha agrees, “Yes, I like doing sports with my mom, it’s nice to do sports all together.” More sessions are planned throughout the summer and always outdoors.
