Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
On August 6, 2024, Noisy-le-Sec proudly hosted a special event, organized in collaboration with Mayors for Peace France, at the Olympic Village, during the Paris Olympic Games 2024, to commemorate the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. This day was dedicated to highlighting the values of peace through the lens of sport.
The morning began with a warm welcome at the city hall, where delegations of youth from Mayors for Peace member cities, Noisy-le-Sec, Grigny, Varennes-Vauzelles, Septèmes-les-Vallons, Montpellier, Vitry- sur-Seine, Villejuif, and Malakoff, gathered. Speeches on the values of peace through sport and Olympism were delivered by notable figures, including:
• Olivier Sarrabeyrouse, Mayor of Noisy-le-Sec, who introduced the peace cooperation project involving the hosting of the Palestinian sports delegation.
• Bernard Amsalem, Board Member of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and former President of the French Athletics Federation
• Clément Rémond, Co-President of FSGT 93 (Sport and Gymnastic Federation of Labor)
• A delegation from the New Japan Sports Federation, discussing the annual peace relay in Hiroshima
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the youth Olympics, where young participants from various cities came together to engage in and experience different Olympic sports. This provided a unique opportunity for them to interact and build connections through friendly competition. Following this, notable athletes shared their testimonies, including:
• Ryad Sallem, a triple European champion in wheelchair basketball and 2023 European champion in wheelchair rugby. Ryad is also a committed entrepreneur and leader, chosen to carry the Paralympic Flame for the Paris 2024 Games.
• Dany Makamata, young karateka with achievements including participation in the Mediterranean Games, victory at the international tournament in Pamplona, and a French team championship title.
• Hadjer Rahmouni, a young vice champion of France in junior judo.
The day concluded with the presentation of participation certificates and the signing of the Youth Call for Peace by the eight delegations. The event also featured a meeting with Mr. Ismaïla Dione from the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games organizing committee. The enthusiasm for this project was overwhelming, and its promising future developments are eagerly anticipated.
Photos: courtesy of S. Fayed// Mairie de Noisy-le-Sec