“It’s the biggest event of the year! It brings together 34 sports associations from 34 establishments in Mayotte. This year we had to limit the number to just over 1,000 students so as not to be overwhelmed,” says Philippe Verseau, regional director of the UNSS (National Union of School Sports) of Mayotte. No less than 7 categories were represented: Benjamin (girls and boys), Minime (girls and boys), High school (girls and boys) and finally that of Shared Sport. For the occasion, around thirty primary school students representing the 5 districts of the island were invited to participate and run with their elders.
The winners will go to the national cross organized in France
There will be 22 privileged people, girls and boys in equal numbers, who will be able to fly to Cergy, near Paris, at the end of March, in order to participate in the National Cross Country. “It’s the biggest national event organized by the UNSS, it’s a monstrous thing! All the departments of France will be represented, there will be many students and many associations, says Philippe Verseau. The level is very high. We will take the winners of 4 categories: college establishment, college excellence, high school, and shared sport. I don’t know if the Mahorais will win…but being present at the French championships, symbolically, is something very strong for Mayotte,” he adds.
The rector is a fervent supporter
As a former PE teacher, rector Jacques Mikulovic was keen to attend this event despite his busy schedule… He thus gave the start of the “shared race” which saw teams made up of able-bodied students and students with disabilities run together to qualify for the French championships. “In the school program, there is an endurance program where students must learn to manage their efforts and their physical condition…This Cross is a good way to put this program into practice,” he explains. Today, we can see that there is collective emulation among all young people. This event is also an opportunity to meet young people from different neighborhoods across the island who compete in a sporting discipline with rules, namely a race in a peaceful setting. They can thus highlight their potential and their skills.”
As a running enthusiast, Jacques Mikulovic knows what he is talking about since just a few weeks ago, he took part in a Grand Raid de La Réunion race, that of Metis with a 52 km course. “The cut-off time was 2 p.m., it took me 1:50 p.m.! », he smiles. In addition, during this morning related workshops allowed all the runners to participate in sporting activities or to learn about various themes thanks to the intervention of institutional or associative partners around the environment, parity, inclusion… So the Naturalists of Mayotte, the Drajes, or even PSL (Profession Sport and Leisure), as well as many other associations were present.
This event was an opportunity for many young people from different backgrounds to get together and share good times around a sporting discipline like running, however with a particular flavor since some will fly away in a few months to France in order to defend the colors of Mayotte.
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