🥳 Get ready to climb, literally! The Paris 2024 Olympics are not just about breaking records—they're about inspiring a whole generation of young Parisians to reach new heights. 🧗♀️🧗♂️
The organizers of Paris 2024 are aiming to make young people the prime beneficiaries of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Along with making the River Seine accessible for open-water swimming and transforming Olympic venues into vibrant neighborhoods, they're focusing on scaling up opportunities for youth climbing. 🌊🏘️
In southern Paris, the Climb-Up gym stands tall as the biggest indoor climbing center in France—but it's just the beginning. Despite a shortage of high-quality climbing facilities in the capital, there's no shortage of enthusiastic young climbers itching to conquer the walls. 🧱💪
With three million children under five in France, climbing is becoming the coolest new sport to try. \"It's more practical to learn climbing when you are young—you are lighter and more mobile,\" says Cathy Bremaud, communications director at Climb-Up. \"Kids are much more comfortable with heights than adults. They always find a solution to climb the wall and get up high despite being smaller.\" 👶🎒
The sport of climbing made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and it's back for Paris 2024 with some exciting changes. This time, speed climbing is a separate event where competitors race side-by-side up a 15-meter wall. Meanwhile, lead climbing and bouldering are combined into an event that's all about skill and strategy, not just speed. 🥇⏱️
Bouldering happens on walls no higher than 4.5 meters, and you don't even need ropes—just a pair of climbing shoes and a fearless attitude! Now that climbing is an Olympic sport, young climbers have a clear path to success. 🥾✨
Since Climb-Up opened in 2021, they've seen a huge increase in young members. \"When you're very young, your first reflex is grabbing or grasping,\" says Simon Brusco, climbing development manager at Climb-Up. \"People in Paris are always looking for something different, so for the young ones, a place like this works very well. We've put in place fun activities for them.\" 🎉🤹♂️
It's one of the coolest things about the Olympics—it shines a spotlight on lesser-known sports, and climbing is definitely climbing up the ranks! The Paris 2024 organizers are committed to unlocking the youth potential for the future. After the Games, the Olympic climbing center will be handed over to the local community, ensuring that the legacy—and the climbing adventures—continue. 🏆🌟
Reference(s):
Olympics scaling up climbing opportunities for young Parisians
cgtn.com
