As the sun sets over Paris and the Games of the 33rd Olympiad draw to a close, we would challenge anyone to demonstrate where the values of Olympism were more present than in a small corner of the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir hockey venue in Colombes.
Perhaps with a sprinkle of magic from spirits of the venue that hosted the 1924 Olympic Games, we gathered together as a global hockey and sporting family to welcome and inspire over 25,000 visitors over 15 days to pick up a stick and have a go at our awesome game.
Often considered a “nice to have” in international sport, sports education and development has a global mission to constantly remind people that the drive to be faster, higher, stronger (and together) exists, not only to demonstrate sporting excellence or to entertain, but to inspire people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and abilities, to find their own personal excellence, make friends and show respect for others.
Sports initiation is about enabling spectators to try a sport, often for the first time, in parallel with the opportunity to see our top athletes performing at the very highest level. It enables a whole experience – to watch, to play and to be inspired. It is, in our opinion, as important as a gold medal.
So what did we do?
Thanks to the vision and collaboration of the Paris2024 Hockey team, Sport Initiation at Yves du Manoir was positioned inside the venue, directly opposite the main spectator entrance. A 58m wide and 40m deep space (just under half the size of an 11-a-side hockey field). The surface was a combination of existing cork filed artificial turf and plastic tiled areas. Activities included “The Hockey Escape” an inflatable obstacle course for all ages, speed shot cage, a goal target cage, a goalkeeper try-out area, adult play space and a 10x20m tiled court with Hockey5s boards restricted to under 12s. Around the rear fencing was a “hockey journey zone” with information about the history of hockey, how to play, where to play, and the values of hockey.
We had a team of 30 incredible Sport and SPX volunteers, together with 10 staff and volunteers from Fédération Française de Hockey, USA Field Hockey, and the FIH. Our needs and wishes were professionally facilitated by the brilliant Paris2024 team and colleagues from the FIH.
Over 15 days, with 100 sticks and balls, and marathons of energy, the initiation area enabled an unbelievable 25,243 individuals to pick up a stick and have a go at hockey!
Just 5 of the many highlights of Sport Initiation at Yves du Manoir:
- Watching highly enthusiastic volunteers, who had never played hockey before, teaching spectators how to play hockey
- Welcoming Olympians and other guests to run masterclasses, sign autographs, interact with fans and sign our wall of fame
- Seeing the smiles, joy and happiness of everyone having a great time
- Experiencing first hand, the solidarity of all staff and volunteers, pulling together to make everything just great.
- Sharing the space to celebrate the wider team delivering the sport and event side of hockey, having them visit to “feel” the front of house and sign the wall of fame.
Above all else, the values of excellence, friendship and respect were personified by the team of staff, volunteers and visitors who chose to spend their Olympic experience in our tiny but super valuable corner of the Paris2024 Games.
Thank you
On behalf of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) , we would like to thank the Paris2024 team and volunteers, the staff and volunteers of the Fédération Française de Hockey , staff of USA Field Hockey , our friends and colleagues at the FIH, the team from Sportways , Nike ZELUS, Authorized Licensee of NIKE, Inc. , all our very special guests, and of course the 25,243 visitors.
Thank you for trusting our vision, challenging us when we needed it, and celebrating alongside us.
Un super grand merci à tous
