Curling, bobsleigh, skiing… Winter sports are in the spotlight at the Accor Arena. A discovery session of these disciplines took place on Wednesday during the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. The watchword: discover and learn through play. These free events open to all will return on February 16 and March 9.
“We want to introduce these sports to all those who do not have the chance to go to winter sports” explains Boris Vassaux, heritage project manager, within the general management of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of the Paris City Hall. To do this, the Accor Arena has been transformed into an Olympic stadium with stands for curling, biathlon and para-biathlon, and even slalom skiing. There are also initiations to skating and hockey on the rink. On the other hand, no artificial snow, but plastic ski and curling tracks.
Virtual reality is also used to introduce certain disciplines such as bobsleigh. “Just put on the 3D helmet and we broadcast a video of the descent. The cold and the snow are just missing” specifies André, who manages the animation. “We feel the sensations, the turns, the speed” says Evan, 12, who has just hurtled down a track in La Plagne at more than 120 km/h.
– Lou Surrans
A big party until 2024
“The Olympics are the biggest sporting event in the world, it makes you dream. We didn’t just want Parisians to dream in front of their TV, but to have fun” says Boris Vassaux. Before adding: “there will be a series of such events until 2024 to prepare for the big celebration of the Paris Games.”
Nearly a thousand children came during this first day of celebration. “It’s too good!” exclaims Salista, 10, after a game of curling. Ludovic, he has fun on the side of the ice rink: “When you try these sports, you realize all the work of the athletes: it makes me want to encourage them even more.”.