In Saint-Louis, a unique activity entitled “Sport and Development” was organized this Sunday, June 23 on the occasion of Olympic Day. The event, initiated by the National Artistic Sports and Cultural Solidarity Association (ASSCAN) in partnership with the Academy of Saint-Louis, aimed to encourage populations to integrate sport into their daily lives.
In total, 300 children from Saint-Louis schools, 30 children from the JOP project, 32 visually impaired children, 40 intellectually disabled children, 15 teachers and 20 socio-sport leaders trained in the Certificate in socio-educational and popular animation skills (CASEP) participated in these Citizens’ Olympiads. The event also brought together academic authorities, parents, civil society organizations, school directors, and NGOs such as Humanity & Inclusion. The objective was to raise awareness of Olympic and Paralympic values, as well as sport for health by professionalizing the socio-educational and sports activities sector.
The activities offered included cooperative games, socio-sport games, Kid’S Athletics as well as theatrical activities. In this regard, Insa Diagne, manager and project manager at ASSCAN, specified that the event aimed to highlight the values of Olympism such as friendship, excellence, inclusion and respect. , which he considers to be ancestral values of Senegalese society.
The event was also an opportunity to revisit current issues in Saint-Louis, notably diabetes and associated risk factors. The initiative even included visually impaired children from the Boly Diaw school. Mr. Diagne noted that the major innovation of this edition was the participation of the Cécifoot team from Saint-Louis which played against a team of blindfolded able-bodied children, thus promoting inclusion.
According to Pape Amadou Guèye, secretary general of the Education and Training Inspectorate (IEF) of the municipality of Saint-Louis, sport should be included in the daily activities of the population. He said that just like education, sport must accompany the individual throughout life.
