The Paris 2024 Olympics are not just about thrilling sports events—they're also paving the way for the next generation of athletes! 🎉 The organizers are committed to making young people the main beneficiaries of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
One of the key legacy aims is to enhance accessibility to open-water swimming in the River Seine and transform areas around Olympic venues into vibrant new neighborhoods. But let's talk about climbing—one of the most exciting additions to the Games!
Currently, the Climb-Up gym in southern Paris stands as the biggest indoor climbing center in France. However, it's an outlier in a city that still faces a shortage of high-quality climbing facilities. 🧗♀️ The good news? There's a massive pool of eager young participants ready to take on the challenge!
With three million children under five in France, the timing couldn't be better to introduce them to sport climbing. 🍼✨ Cathy Bremaud, Communications Director at Climb-Up, explains, “It's more practical to learn climbing when you are young, you are lighter, and more mobile. Children are much more comfortable with heights than adults. They always find a solution, and to climb the wall, and get up high despite the fact that they are smaller than us and they could be more scared because they have seen fewer things in life.”
The sport of climbing made its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, featuring a combined event of lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering. This time around, speed climbing has its own separate event where competitors race side-by-side up a 15-meter wall. Meanwhile, lead climbing and bouldering remain a combined event, focusing on point-scoring rather than speed.
Climbing is accessible to all—with just a pair of climbing shoes, enthusiasts can start their journey. 🥾 Since opening in 2021, Climb-Up has seen a significant rise in young members. Simon Brusco, Climbing Development Manager at Climb-Up, shares, “When you're very young, your first reflex is grabbing or grasping. Here that works well because people in Paris are always looking for something different, and so for the young ones a place like this works very well, and we put in place fun activities for them.”
One of the coolest aspects of the Olympic Games is how they spotlight lesser-known sports like climbing. 🏅 After the Games, the climbing center will be handed over to the local community, ensuring that the youth potential unlocked during the Olympics continues to grow. It's a win-win for aspiring young climbers and the vibrant city of Paris!
Stay tuned for more updates on how Paris 2024 is climbing to new heights for its youth! 🌟
