Val-de-Marne: Sunday in Créteil, sport is for everyone

There's… zumba in the air at the Créteil sports hall this Sunday morning.

More than 150 people, the vast majority of them women, had a blast for this first activity, organized as part of “Créteil sport ensemble”.

This new operation is offered by the town hall in conjunction with sports associations one Sunday morning per month.

And this, for free, without registration.

On her stage, with three students, teacher Pascale Ricoult of the CA Danse association shows the steps and sets the tempo.

After a first try, the music starts.

The participants repeat the movements.

“I don't have the rhythm,” laughs Nora, while her teenage son follows the tempo perfectly.

"She dragged me but it's nice, we spend time together", loose Nolan before resuming the movements.

"Promote sports activity in a flexible framework", according to the mayor

Some stick out their tongues, concentrate on the exercises but all seem happy, happy to be moving.

And that is the goal.

“We felt very strong aspirations of the Cristolians to get oxygen and to move after the health crisis, says Laurent Cathala (PS), the mayor of the city-prefecture.

We wanted to promote physical activities and sport in a flexible, unconstrained framework.

»

The city councilor also recalls that sport "is part of the city's identity".

With nearly 90 sports facilities, some 9,300 members of the US Créteil, high-level football and handball clubs, numerous medal-winning champions, it is an understatement to say that Créteil has everything of a sports town.

In 2018, the city even won the three laurels of the “Ville Active & Sportive” label, the only one in Île-de-France at the time to win this new distinction, initiated by the Ministry of Sports.

Read alsoVal-de-Marne: "We muscle our arms and let off steam", rowing as an ally for the health of schoolchildren

This Sunday, in the room, the pace is accelerating, the giggles too and the first grimaces of fatigue as well.

“We play sports with friends and girlfriends on Sunday mornings, so that's great, laughs Nora, a young woman from Thiais.

Sabri, a friend, dropped the case.

"Already I don't do much sport but then I was lost in the movements", he laughs while his girlfriends gently chamber him.

"It gives pleasure to move", appreciates this resident

In front of him, women of all ages show him the example.

“You have to follow but it gives pleasure to move, appreciates Emmanuelle.

And then, it does not feel like doing sports.

“Frankly for a first, I did not think that so many people would come, enjoys Linda Ferga, former athletics champion, employee of the town hall.

After the pandemic, we really felt that people needed to come together and move.

»

And everyone finds their account.

“We make ourselves known and perhaps some participants will come and register,” rejoices Nathalie Canitrot, president of the CA Danse association.

"It's a great first," agrees Didier Caudale, the sports director in the town.

This operation is also “as part of the Sport-health operation”, he specifies.

Doctors, in very specific cases, can prescribe sports sessions to get back in shape in the event of chronic illness or after an accident, for example.

Fans just have to watch the program.

Each month, a different discipline is offered: on October 9, it's orienteering, on November 13, yoga...