In Torcy, 50 young people learn kayaking and art for free thanks to the Cultural Olympiad

2023-07-30 17:44:47

“Initially, it was not a lake. There were lots of fields here before the base was created,” says Alex, under the watchful eye of the young people. This event project manager from the leisure island of Vaires-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne) gave a tour at the end of the week of the huge site which will host the rowing and canoe-kayak events during the 2024 Olympic Games in Torcy, 50 young people are introduced to kayaking and art for free thanks to the Cultural Olympiad for adolescents at the Torcy youth center.

This initiative was part of the Cultural Olympiad. A call for projects launched by the Île-de-France region which aims to “weave links between sports practice and artistic creation”. With one objective: to show that the Olympic Games are not limited to sport.

Because by winning this call, the youth and culture center of Torcy received a grant of 3,000 euros. An amount that allowed about fifty teenagers aged 11 to 17 to learn kayaking and plastic arts for free for six days.

“It made me want to follow canoeing during the Games”

Last Thursday, the children even discovered the Olympic site. This is where Alex took the opportunity to reveal to them with pedagogy the history of the creation of the nautical base of Vaires-Torcy as well as some anecdotes on the construction of the 200 ha site inaugurated in 2019.

Thursday 27 July, Vaires-sur-Marne. Despite the rain, the young people were able to discover the nautical base and the kayak.

Despite the rain, the small group surveyed the nautical base, passing in front of the panoramic room. “It allows you to welcome VIPs,” explains Alex. If the President of the Republic comes to see the Games here, he will be in this room to observe the extent of the competition. »

Among the teenagers, Malik, 11, is eager to attend the international competition. “I love basketball and tennis but this visit made me want to follow canoeing during the Olympics! exclaims the schoolboy. It’s great to do activities related to such an important event. »

A little further, Léna, 11, came with her little sister. This bubbly brunette likes sports, especially figure skating and running. “I liked learning to kayak,” she says, before laughing: “On the other hand, I fell into the water several times! »

Vaires-sur-Marne, Thursday 27 July. Malik (on the right) particularly appreciated discovering the Olympic site. This basketball fan who lives in Torcy now even wants to follow the canoe-kayak events during the Olympic Games.

Alex notices that the teenagers are very concerned about the deadline for the Olympic Games. “I feel a much stronger appetite for sport in them compared to my generation at the same age”, notes the brown man in his twenties.

A monumental work designed with an artist

In the evening, the young people then inaugurated the work they designed with the artist Do Delaunay. His workshop is also located right next to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis). When asked his age, the sexagenarian jokes: he can “still climb the ladders”.

Vaires-sur-Marne. Léna with her little sister (in the foreground) proudly observes the work in which she participated.

Thus, the work baptized “Le Pagayer” now opens its wings made of… paddles. Because this creation, installed towards the path of the small road in Torcy, was designed from materials recovered from boats.

“Coming to visit the Torcy kayak club, the manager said: Ah, but I have about thirty wooden paddles that are no longer used in an attic, relates the artist. This generated the project of a paddle tree. Each child painted their own. The result plays on the imagination and the idea of ​​the totem. »

Thus, Léna feels proud to see her paddle decorated with a marine anchor opening up to the sky. This atypical tree will remain here all summer. Just to remind you that the Games also provide dreams.