The Old’ympiades of the Little Brothers of the Poor

On the occasion of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Little Brothers of the Poor are launching their Old’ympiades.

The Petits Frères des Pauvres are launching the Old’ympiades to allow more than 1,000 isolated elderly people to enjoy the benefits of sport. This summer, 1,200 isolated elderly people, supported by the association, will benefit from around a hundred sports activities adapted to their mobility, to combat their loneliness, which is more difficult to experience in the summer, and to prevent loss of autonomy.

Sport helps prevent falls, breaks social isolation and helps maintain autonomy. In fact, the World Health Organization recommends that adults, including older people, do at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.

For the summer of 2024, the Petits Frères des Pauvres are innovating by offering Old’ympiades in nearly 100 vacation stays, throughout France, with sports workshops, over half days, adapted to the physical abilities of each person – archery, athletics, football, hockey, ping-pong, boccia, rugby, boxing – and run thanks to the Siel bleu association.

More than 1,200 people aged 60 and over, including people in situations of severe dependency, will be able to benefit from the benefits of sport.

The association’s group activities, and more particularly the summer holidays, are an opportunity for seniors to strengthen social ties, at a time when isolation is more difficult to deal with. This year, through sport, the Petits Frères des Pauvres also want to combat a sedentary lifestyle and ageism, by showing that physical activity can be practiced at any age.

“Prevention and attention paid to healthy aging and autonomy are becoming essential. These sports workshops, adapted to each individual, contribute to the well-being of our elders and their development.”

Yann Lasnier, general delegate of the Little Brothers of the Poor

to franceinfo