Olympic and Paralympic Week (OPW) began on April 2. Its goal is to send a simple message: “Eat well, move well”.
- The 8th edition of Olympic and Paralympic Week (SOP) takes place from April 2 to 6, 2024.
- Its goal is to promote physical activity and a healthy, balanced diet.
- This year, 2 million children were made aware through schools.
Great national cause 2024, physical activity must increase in France among adults but especially among children. Promoting physical activity is therefore a necessity.
The government hopes that moving at least 30 minutes a day and eating a balanced diet will be firmly anchored in everyone’s minds in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is in this context that the 8th opened on Tuesday April 2, 2024.th edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Week (SOP)in partnership with Danone, official partner of Paris 2024 and until April 6.
2 million children made aware
The launch of the SOP (called Champions Day) took place on April 2 at the Adidas Arena in Paris with more than 4,000 children present, numerous sports activities and a culinary and sports show.
But in fact more than 2 million young people have been made aware throughout France and will be made aware throughout the week, with more than 10,000 schools mobilized, more than 1,000 projects with athletes and more than 5,800 projects integrating a Paralympic dimension.
Faced with the very poor situation in France in terms of physical activity, and according to Marie Barsacq, Impact and Legacy director of Paris 2024, we must “ promote physical and sporting activity » by acting directly on the youngest.
“Sedentary youth, bedridden old age”
For Dr Michel Cymès, Health Ambassador for the Paris 2024 Games, during the press brief on March 27, 2024: “ Today’s children are heading towards an elderly disease like type 2 diabetes. “. And according to him: “ Sedentary youth, bedridden old age “.
It is indeed necessary to act from a very young age in terms of physical activity. And as indicated by Jean-Marc Serfaty, ministerial referent for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Ministry of National Education, THE ” 30 minutes of recommended physical activities should be integrated into school time » ; without forgetting that “bmoving is a need, and the response to the need to move is organized during school time and should not be considered as extra time “. It is necessary, according to him, “toinclude teachers, students and parents “.
Remember an increase of 2% each year in the number of adolescents aged 16 to 18 with type 2 diabetes, and an increase of more than 15% in obese children (according to a study dating from 2023). We therefore observe a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and chronic pathologies such as type 2 diabetes or cancers, favored by obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. This lack of physical activity among young people is truly worrying for the health of the adults they will become. The levers are, without hesitation, the promotion of regular and appropriate physical activity, and better nutrition. Let’s not forget that he is also proven that physical activity reduces depressive symptoms, anxiety and improves thinking, learning and well-being.
Promote physical activity and balanced diet
According to Simon Van de Steene, Director of the Danone and Paris 2024 Games partnership, it is necessary “ raise awareness among young people about eating better and better to move “.
As Tony Estanguet reminds us: “Since 2017, with Olympic and Paralympic Week, more than five million young people have been made aware of the benefits of sport and other crucial themes such as disability and inclusion through sport with this year even more projects integrating a para-sport dimension, i.e. 6,200 “.
And even if this SOP is the last one carried by Paris 2024, it intends to continue after the end of the Games.
