By swapping their flip-flops for sneakers, the residents of the Lanniron campsite experienced the events they watched on television in their own way. According to sports professionals, the summer holidays are a crucial time to encourage people to move more.
Not necessarily fully awake, the athletes of the day settle down one by one on the pitch. At the microphone, the presenters are in the starting blocks: “Welcome everyone, let’s go for Olympic day!” This Wednesday, July 31, the L’Orangerie de Lanniron campsite in Quimper (Finistère) got into the rhythm of the Paris 2024 Games. On the program: family Olympics, where children and adults must surpass themselves on their vacation spot to aim for the podium.
“We tried to stick as closely as possible to the real events”explains Juliette Royant, in charge of communication for this summer season. As an opening ceremony, but also as a warm-up, the six teams begin the campsite dance. About ten chassés and a few rounds of applause later, it is already 10:30. Everyone seems ready to take on the challenges concocted for the occasion.
Coming from Rennes for the week, Nicolas, Aurore and their two children make up the “Ice Cream Team”. A name found by Lisa, the eldest, who “just love ice cream”Already registered for dance, she could start judo at the start of the school year, “like what we saw on television”comments his mother. For their first test, the Rennes team will face “the Eagles”, a Parisian family, during an “archery tag” battle, where you have to hit targets using padded arrows without being hit by your opponent.
After two rounds of 4 minutes each, the two teams come back swimming. “It seemed to last ten times longer!”cries Aurore, out of breath. Opposite, Arthur, 10 years old, has “given everything” with his parents, Julien and Laëtitia. “We try to stay in shape. For us, holidays are often active, between running and hiking,” explains the father, satisfied despite the defeat. Even the trips to the swimming pool are an opportunity to “push a little”, while Arthur, a member of an athletics club, is very happy to be able to “let go of sport” during summer.
In the center of the campsite, Tamara is refereeing the dance competition. “We couldn’t miss it”smiles the young host, as breakdancing has made its way into the Olympics this year for the first time in history. The different teams parading in front of her have a few minutes to learn some of the Dance of the Gamesofficial choreography of the Paris Olympics by Mourad Merzouki. “It’s not easy, but I add points if there are smiles”confides Tamara, herself a dance fan and Staps student.
In addition to their shyness, the competitors must overcome the scorching sun and the 31°C of the day. “We didn’t think we’d get so involved!”admit Ian and Ursula, English tourists on holiday with their two children, Connie and Ted. The little family does not regret their choice, however. “It’s nice to participate in a certain way in these Games that we see displayed everywhere, in restaurants, in the streets, in the supermarket… Even far from Paris, we feel this very special atmosphere”Ian explains, interrupted by his phone. “We just won bronze in diving!”he rejoices, giving the details of the ranking to his daughter.
After juggling between balloons and questions about the Paris Games, The teams compete in the “escal’arbre”. Wearing a harness, you have to climb as fast as possible along a trunk full of holds to reach a wooden platform, then let yourself fall. Although the speed is not that of the climbing professionals, the record of the day is still 24 seconds. “Yes, well, he’s a man who works on electricity pylons…”objects a vacationer who came to watch the events.
Within the teams, not all participants have the same physical condition, “and that’s not a problem”assures Oussama, the campsite’s sports coach, who views these Olympics favorably. “When people are on vacation, it’s the perfect time to get back into sport, he reports. They have freer minds and time to listen to themselves more, to think about their health.” Every morning at 8:30 a.m., his muscle-awakening class is almost full. Participants range in age from 10 to 65, “with people who usually move very little and others who are, on the contrary, fans of crossfit explains the coach. There is an energy, and everyone leaves with a smile to continue their day.”
On the occasion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the issue of sport in holiday resorts is part of the major national cause 2024, decreed by the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. In conjunction with several stakeholders, including the French Federation of Multi-Sports Clubs (FFCO), a program called “Bouge ton camping” has even been launched across France. “We offer holidaymakers the opportunity to take a twenty-minute exercise test to identify deficiencies in flexibility, cardio and balance…”lists Denis Lafoux, director of the FFCO, contacted by telephone. With the hope that upon returning from vacation, “People are getting back into sport or going to get bread on foot or by bike rather than by car, for example,” he explains.
At the Lanniron campsite, the operation caravan will not be passing through this year, but the desire to encourage holidaymakers to do sport is the same. “Paris 2024 is an opportunity to focus on physical exercise”, explains Juliette, who also leads yoga sessions for campers on certain mornings during the week. “We’ve had very good feedback from residents so far.”
Early in the afternoon, exhausted by the series of events, the teams will finally know the final ranking. In a very fair-play atmosphere, medals, but also prizes, are distributed to all the delegations. For the youngest, beach rackets seem to be more enjoyable than a place on the podium. “We already won a ball yesterday. Now we have everything!”exclaims one of the children. For their part, the Rennes “Ice Cream Team” can’t believe they won these Olympics. “We weren’t the most athletic, though.”repeats Nicolas, the father, laughing. Their performance allows them to win a voucher for a little boat trip on the nearby Odet River.
Quite quickly, the “real Olympics” enter the conversation. Some are eager to follow the athletics, the main events of the sprint and the high jump in particular. Others are excited about the exploits of the French swimmer Léon Marchand. Among the British, it is recalled that the tennis player Andy Murray is aiming for a last hurrah before putting down his racket for good. “The Games are an opportunity to see a whole bunch of athletes, both established and new.”notes Ian, whose family is pleased after finishing at the bottom of the table.
The day’s entertainment also highlighted the other sporting activities on offer. “See you on the volleyball court this afternoon?”wonder two English couples, even though the heat is getting heavier and heavier. Refreshed by the rewards, the children have a furious desire to reproduce the challenges throughout the campsite. “After eating, we’re going straight to the swimming pool.”a little girl says to her mother. “Can we do it too?”two other boys immediately ask. For parents this summer, there is no Olympic truce on the horizon.