As part of the Olympic and Paralympic Week, former swimmers Alain Bernard and Christophe Kalfayan visited Jacques-Bossier School in Antibes.
The Olympic and Paralympic Week is currently taking place. Organized by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry in charge of Sports, and the French sports movement, it allows young children to meet Olympic champions and medalists. A great initiative designed to promote the development of sports in schools, in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris. The students from the Fontonne-Boissier leisure center in Antibes had the honor and privilege to welcome two former swimmers, Alain Bernard and Christophe Kalfayan.
Multiple medalist at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics, Alain Bernard was delighted to participate in this day: “I came to share my experience as a high-level athlete with the children, to show them everything that sport can bring.” The city of Antibes is organizing various events during this Olympic and Paralympic Week. Thus, 6 schools and 8 leisure centers are being exposed to the development of sport through games and explanations about the history of the Olympic Games.
Multiple activities organized
For the occasion, the educators from the leisure center organized several sporting activities. Basketball, football, running, and throwing, each child tried out these events. The young students were gathered in small groups, and these groups represented countries. Ultimately, Italy narrowly won against strong competition. The mayor of Antibes, Jean Leonetti, was very grateful to the two athletes from Antibes for participating in the successful holding of this event: “I thank you for representing Antibes and France so well. It is important to remember that sport is a competition, but it is also a great moment of fraternity.”
The values of sport were highlighted during these festivities. “If this can spark something in them, it will only be positive,” concluded Alain Bernard. He had brought some little surprises for the young children. The former swimmer came with his 4 Olympic medals, including a gold one… enough to inspire admiration from the children, who also received a diploma recognizing all their efforts during this Olympic and Paralympic Week, as well as a photo with Alain Bernard and an autograph from the former swimmer.
