Preparations for the Olympics in full swing at Aix-Marseille Université

The city of Marseille will play a key role in the Olympic Games over the next few months. The Olympic Flame will arrive at the Vieux-Port on the 8th of May in the hands of Romanian legendary swordswoman Ana Maria Brânză. Sailing competitions and ten football matches (both men’s and women’s) will take place at the famous Orange Vélodrome. The excitment has made it all the way to Aix-Marseille Université, where the students and faculty are getting ready to celebrate this once in a lifetime occasion.

The awareness campaign started last month, with the first weeks dedicated to the discovery of parasports. An opportunity to learn about the equipment and resources put in place and adapted for it, and to raise community awareness of visible and invisible disabilities. Students, faculty and passer-bys could try laser-run, battle archery, rowing and boccia.

The boccia game. Photo © Eléa Ropiot_Aix-Marseille Université

Other activities to come include:

the 'History, sport and citizenship: from the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024' exhibit, touring the university libraries;
the performance of 'MARSEILLE', a contemporary dance choreography performed by 80 student dancers from AMU and the CIVIS alliance;
a Stress management week;
a Fitness night in May.

The ability to study and still practise sport at a high level

Sport is an integral part of AMU's identity at all levels: taught at the Faculty of sports sciences, researched within its labs or practised at a recreational or professional level. All sporting activities have been and will continue to be celebrated during various events on campus.

Over 330 students are following a high-level sports curriculum during the 2023-2024 school year. This specific curriculum allows them to continue practising sport as professional athletes while also continuing their studies. Students who won medals at the French university championships in 2023 were celebrated during the Cérémonie des Champions this April.

Thanks to its deep commitment to sport, Aix-Marseille Université has been awarded the Génération 2024 label by the French government. This label aims to build bridges between education and sport to encourage young people to take part in physical activities. All the more motivation to experience the Olympic and Paralympics games to the fullest!

Find out more from the original story, in French.