the essential
La Passem, the relay race in support of the Occitan language, starts this afternoon from the town hall square in Tarbes. On the program, 1100 kilometers across 5 departments.
A language that is not transmitted is a language that dies. Occitan is more alive than ever.
It is this afternoon, at 3 p.m., Place Jean Jaurès in Tarbes that the start of the Passem is given.
To immerse yourself in the atmosphere, an Occitan village is open in front of the town hall this morning. We will be able to participate in activities around Gascon thanks to the stands of the exhibitors present: publisher, teaching, radio, associations… This will be an opportunity to take stock of the liveliness of the Occitan language in our territory and why not to the actors involved in the defense of the language of getting to know each other. And as Evelyne Hiere-Susbielles, referent 65 of the Passem, reminds us, “we sometimes have difficulty being heard as a defender of the Occitan language. The Passem gives visibility. It is not only important, but it is capital. Occitan is a language close to people Every time we distribute leaflets, people always give us an affectionate welcome. The language often evokes family, loved ones. language, very rich.”
Starting from Tarbes, the race will be run over 1,100 kilometers through five departments, two regions until Mont-de-Marsan.
The runners will take turns day and night to pass the baton to each other (ligams).
Note a strong mobilization of Occitan movements to provide relays for the race.
They will run day and night
“The Passem is inspired by the korrika which has been run for 40 years in the Basque Country. It is an untimed pedestrian race which allows us to support projects in Occitan in all the territories crossed” explains Daniel Barneix, the president of Ligams, the association which organizes the race. “We realized in these different territories that many people were carrying out actions in favor of Occitan. But they did not necessarily know each other. The Passem allows us to create links between people and gives visibility to the language” continues Daniel Barneix.
To support the Passem, nothing could be simpler, you just have to “buy” kilometers. (www.lapassem.com) At €100 per kilometer, the race raises funds which will then be redistributed to associations and movements working to support the Occitan language in all the territories crossed.
In the meantime, it’s going to be a party all along the way to celebrate union and language.
