An Olympic legacy facing economic reality

Meeting on January 22 to celebrate its half-century of existence, the Comité Départemental Olympique et Sportif (CDOS) du Var honored a heroic young lifeguard and outlined the prospects for a sporting movement balanced between Olympic legacy and economic challenges. Thursday, January 22 marked, day for day, the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the CDOS du Var, published in the Journal Officiel on January 22, 1976. Before an audience of association leaders, elected officials, and partners, the president of the Committee took stock of the first 10 months of his term, describing the past year as "dense, demanding and sometimes complex."

LEGACY OF THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES

While the year 2025 benefited from the momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, leaving a "cultural, educational and societal" legacy with a renewed interest in sports practice in the Var, the picture is not without its shadows. The president highlighted the financial difficulties of the organizations: "Inflation, rising operating costs, weakening of public and private funding, so many challenges weighing on your daily life." Facing these obstacles, the CDOS positions itself as a "facilitator." Obtaining the Guid'Asso label and recognition as a Tiers de Confiance by the URSSAF make it possible to support clubs in payroll management and administrative procedures, thus relieving volunteers. The committee also focused on professionalization. The year 2025 saw the creation of the BPJEPS AAN (Activités Aquatiques et de la Natation), completing the training offer to address the shortage of lifeguards. Regarding the health aspect, the programs ("CAP Sport Santé Seniors" and "iCAPS") for young people continue to fight against sedentary lifestyles and screen addiction. However, the president warned about the weakening of the Service Civique, an essential tool for associations, which was undermined in 2025 by administrative and budgetary blockages.

ACT OF BRAVERY BY YANIS CARRARA

The highlight of the evening was, without a doubt, the honoring of Yanis Carrara. This young man, born in 2006, in BPJEPS training within the CDOS and an apprentice at the "Sauveteurs juniors de Saint-Cyr", distinguished himself through a heroic act on December 11, 2025 in La Ciotat (Bouches-du-Rhône). While a vehicle was sinking into the water, the former high-level swimmer did not hesitate. "He dived into the basin [...] He went towards the 5-year-old girl in the back of the vehicle, managed to keep his hand on the little girl's belt while the car was sinking, unbuckled her while being underwater and brought the little one back up," the president recounted with emotion. For this rescue in extremis, Yanis Carrara received the Médaille du CDOS, highlighting "this professional choice to come rescue people and save lives."

HEADING FOR THE ALPES 2030

The year 2026 promises to be rich in events with the Milano-Cortina Winter Games, which serve as a springboard for the candidacy of the "Alpes 2030", a project that will involve the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The CDOS has defined its priorities: fighting against sexist and sexual violence with the implementation of specific training courses starting in February, and promoting positive parenting in sport through the "Attitude Sport – Parents Sport" program. "Sport is not an expense, it is an investment," the president hammered in conclusion, calling on local authorities to maintain their support for a sector vital to social cohesion.