In France, a little less than half of children do not know how to swim when they enter sixth grade. But in Seine-Saint-Denis, a department which will host numerous aquatic events during the Paris Olympic Games, it is worse: six out of ten children do not master swimming. In this video, we will try to understand why.
Because it is fundamental physical knowledge in the eyes of the State. Knowing how to swim safely helps prevent the risk of drowning. In recent years, the discipline has become a priority in the physical education and sports programs of national education. But in an area which has only thirty-eight swimming pools for 1.6 million inhabitants, the objectives are difficult to achieve.
Romain Chastagner, lifeguard and director of the Drancy nautical stadium, knows this well: he has thousands of students to train each year before they enter 6e. If his swimming pool will benefit from an expansion by 2026, he points out the lack of resources and strong disparities depending on social background.
Operation “Playgrounds”
This subject was carried out as part of the “Terrains de Jeux” project, supported by Visa, global partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Until November 2024, eight young people, accompanied by journalists from World, tell the story of the Olympic year seen from Seine-Saint-Denis in the form of articles, videos and podcasts. They were identified by the Sport dans la ville association as part of a partnership with Visa whose objective is to promote the professional integration of young people from priority neighborhoods. The writing of the World is responsible for the choice of topics and editorial content.
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