Ouakam: an inter-generational sports tournament brings together young and old

About a hundred residents of Ouakam, from teenagers to people in their sixties, took part on Sunday in an inter-generational sports tournament held on the neighbourhood's municipal field, mixing five-a-side football, draughts and relay races. The event, in its second edition, aimed to strengthen ties between the neighbourhood's young and older residents.

The initiative grew out of a concern shared by several local associations: the lack of opportunities for generations to meet outside family or religious settings. This year's edition paired a youth team with an elders' team in each discipline for the first time, rather than running strictly age-separated competitions.

On the field, the mood was lighthearted, with several participants describing reunions with neighbours they had not spoken to in months. Organisers say they want to make the event quarterly rather than annual, provided they find new partners to fund future editions.

What the creator verified this Sunday: about a hundred residents actually taking part at the municipal field between 3pm and 6pm. What remains to be confirmed: whether the quarterly pace announced by organisers is feasible, which will depend on financial support secured from new partners.