On the occasion of the 26th departmental ceremony for the distribution of sports equipment, held at the Hôtel du Département, Martine Vassal, President of the Department, highlighted her support for school sports. Equipment was presented to 65 college sports sections in Bouches-du-Rhône.
In the presence of Marine Pustorino, Departmental Councilor for Sport, students, teachers, and sports section representatives attended. This year, 65 sports sections covering 24 disciplines, including rowing, basketball, handball, orienteering, dance, and sailing, are receiving departmental support to assist students in their dual academic and athletic pursuits.
Students and their supervisors received new equipment, including a sports bag, a water bottle, a towel, and a complete outfit (jacket and t-shirt). Sports sections also benefited from specialized material adapted to each discipline's needs, aimed at improving training and practice conditions.
Martine Vassal stated: 'Our ambition is to give all college students the means to succeed, both in their studies and in their sports practice. By investing in this equipment, we support their journeys, foster their development, and transmit the essential values of sport: respect, self-improvement, and teamwork. This commitment is fully in line with the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and our desire to make sport a lever for equality and success for all.'
The ceremony also featured Tom Arnoux, 2025 iQFOIL Vice-World Champion and former sports section student. He shared his experience, emphasizing the crucial role of the support he received during his schooling for his high-level athletic career.
This support for sports sections is part of a broader departmental policy aimed at promoting access to sport for all, supporting elite and health-focused sports, promoting gender equality, and backing local associations. The Department thus continues its action for active, ambitious, and fulfilled youth, convinced that sport is a powerful tool for inclusion, success, and citizenship.
