Full steam ahead towards the first Fête du Sport

From 15 to 18 September, 80 primary school classes followed by the entire population are invited to discover and try their hand at 25 sporting disciplines to celebrate the Fête du Sport.

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Affiche de la Fête du sport

A boxing ring installed beside the cannons of the former arsenal. Badminton in front of the Reformation Wall with American football and tchoukball at the entrance to Uni Bastions. And archery on the Promenade de la Treille. These are just some of the sites that local residents are invited to discover on 17 and 18 September during the very first Fête du Sport.

The event is organised by the Geneva Sports Association, the Geneva Cantonal Office for Culture and Sport and the Sports Service of the City of Geneva.

Free and open to all

Free and open to all, the very first edition of this event held in Parc des Bastions and the old town will herald in a new start to the sporting activities of hundreds of clubs throughout the canton. Scheduled to be organised on a biennial basis, the Fête du Sport more generally aims to bring the local sports associations into closer contact with the general public, young and old alike.

“The event will allow the sporting world to meet the general public in a convivial atmosphere away from the stadiums and other usual sites,” stresses Thierry Apothéloz, State Councillor responsible for social cohesion. “For the canton, this reflects our desire to encourage everyone to get involved with a sporting activity”. “This event has also been organised to support the sports clubs, many of which lost members during the Covid pandemic and now need to attract a new public,” explains Mayor of Geneva Marie Barbey-Chappuis, responsible for the Municipal Department of Security and Sports.

25 sporting disciplines

Over the two days, residents will be able to try their hand at 25 sporting disciplines while admiring demonstrations or chatting to professional athletes. To get from one stand to another, a cultural and historical trail has been created especially for the occasion and will lead the public around the emblematic sites.

On 15 and 16 September, the Fête du Sport will be open to the pupils of classes 5P to 8P. Some 1,800 children will be taken to visit the stands and discover the sporting activities on show. Organised with the support of the Department of Public Education, Training and Youth (DIP), these two days will give each of the 80 classes registered the chance to explore two disciplines in particular. “Some disciplines are less well-known to the general public, and it is interesting for children to discover sports which are organised all year round by their respective associations,” notes Thierry Apothéloz.

For more information and to discover which disciplines will be presented, visit the fetedusport.ch website

For any additional information

DCS: Mr Thierry Apothéloz, State Councillor, by contacting Mr Henri Della Casa, Deputy Secretary General responsible for communication, tel. 022 546 54 32.

DSSP: Ms Marie Barbey-Chappuis, Mayor of the City of Geneva, by contacting Mr Cédric Waelti, senior policy advisor responsible for communication, tel. 079 596 19 79.

Article modifié le 23.09.2022 à 15:44